13 CFR § 142.26 - Can a party informally discuss the case with the ALJ?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t13/s142.26"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "13 CFR § 142.26 - Can a party informally discuss the case with the ALJ?"
title_number: 13
title_name: "Business Credit and Assistance"
section_number: "142.26"
section_name: "Can a party informally discuss the case with the ALJ?"
chapter_name: "SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "142"
part_name: "PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT REGULATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 634(b); 31 U.S.C. 3803(g)(2)."
regulatory_source: "61 FR 2691, Jan. 29, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "142"
---


# 142.26 Can a party informally discuss the case with the ALJ?

No. Such discussions are forbidden as *ex parte* communications with the ALJ as set forth in § 134.220 of this chapter. This does not prohibit a party from communicating with other employees of OHA to inquire about the status of a case or to ask routine questions concerning administrative functions and procedures.