As I have previously written, there is a long list of regulatory changes coming from DEA in the next few years. Rather than publish one or more of the long overdue regulations listed on
DEA’s Regulatory Agenda, on April 30, 2019, the agency will publish a Final Rule creating a “discretionary review” process allowing the Administrator to review an Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ’s”) denial of a request for an interlocutory appeal. Note that this is a Final Rule, not a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The agency was able to bypass the traditional notice and comment rulemaking process by categorizing this rule as a Rule of Agency, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. As such, the rule is effective immediately.
Requests for interlocutory appeals can take many forms in a DEA administrative proceeding. Often, they are a result of a procedural or evidentiary ruling by an ALJ during the prehearing process. DEA regulations currently give ALJs broad authority to rule on a request to seek an interlocutory appeal. The ALJ’s decision to deny a request for an interlocutory appeal is not reviewable. Until now.
The Department of Justice recently published its list of proposed regulatory actions for the near and long term. It appears that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) Regulatory Drafting and Support Section is going to have a busy year. The 
While a great deal of attention is given to DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Mulrooney’s (“CALJ Mulrooney’s”) opinion regarding the impact of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act on DEA enforcement efforts, very little attention has been afforded a shocking and unprecedented attack by a sitting DEA Administrative Law Judge on DEA’s formal administrative hearing process found within the same article.
