§71.115. Appeal on petition to the Administrator. — Inbound Citations

(a) Upon receipt of the complete certified record of the hearing the appropriate TTB officer shall enter an order suspending, revoking, or annulling the permit (on TTB F 5000.5) or dismissing the proceedings in accordance with the administrative law judge's findings and decision, unless he disagrees with such findings and decision and files a petition with the Administrator, for review thereof, as provided in § 71.115. If the appropriate TTB officer files such petition, he shall withhold issuance of the order, pending the decision of the Administrator, upon receipt of which he shall issue the order in accordance therewith. A signed duplicate original of the order of the appropriate TTB officer shall be served upon the respondent and the original copy containing certificate of service shall be placed in the official record of the proceeding. In all proceedings in which a suspension is imposed, the appropriate TTB officer's order shall state the time when the suspension period set forth in the administrative law judge's decision shall commence and terminate.

An administrative law judge shall, at any time, withdraw from any proceeding if he or she deems him or herself disqualified; and upon the filing in good faith by the applicant or respondent, or by the attorney for the Government, of a timely and sufficient affidavit of facts showing personal bias or otherwise warranting the disqualification of any administrative law judge, the Administrator shall upon appeal as provided in § 71.115, if the administrative law judge fails to disqualify him or herself, determine the matter as a part of the record and decision in the proceeding. If the Administrator decides the administrative law judge should have declared him or herself disqualified, the Administrator will remand the record for hearing de novo before another administrative law judge. If the Administrator should decide against the disqualification of the administrative law judge, the proceeding will be reviewed on its merits.