Announcements

Highlights

• Spanish Hearings
  In 2021, OAH began a pilot project to hold certain hearings entirely in Spanish. The goal was to increase meaningful participation by providing greater accessibility and understanding. OAH worked with the Employment Security Department (ESD) to examine ideas to reduce language barriers and provide a quality experience. After the successful pilot, holding hearings in Spanish continued and is part of the normal work for ESD cases.

• Yale Law article
  Individuals with limited English proficiency need accommodations to have access to justice in legal proceedings. Interpreters can sometimes bridge the gap in understanding. However, interpretation often has drawbacks, particularly with Spanish. These drawbacks can result in a less accurate record and create mistrust of the system among participants. For these reasons, the OAH holds certain hearings entirely in Spanish, without interpreters.  To learn more, read the article.

OAH Annual Report

For more information about OAH, see our 2023 Annual Report.

Impact of Coronavirus and Other Contagions at OAH

The state and federal public health emergency proclamations for COVID-19 ended. However, COVID-19 and other coronaviruses, noroviruses and other contagions remain workplace safety hazards. In order to protect public health and OAH staff, we expect that:

• If you are sick or in a known contagious period, you will not come to an OAH facility or an in-person hearing.
• If you cannot safely come in person, you will contact the Adjudicative Support Center to make alternative arrangements. Call 360-407-2700 or toll free 800-583-8271.

Masks are available at our reception counter at your request.

OAH Public Contacts

Mike Wark  360-407-2700

Shannon Goudy  360-407-2700

Barb Cleveland  360-407-2700