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EPA's Administrative Law Judges

Related Information
  • About the Office of the Administrative Law Judges (OALJ)
  • OALJ main phone number: 202-564-6255
  • Honorable Susan L. Biro
  • Honorable Christine Donelian Coughlin
  • Honorable Michael B. Wright

Honorable Susan L. Biro

Chief Judge Biro joined EPA as an Administrative Law Judge in November 1996 and was appointed as the Chief Administrative Law Judge in May 1997. From 1994 until 1996, she served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration in New York City and prior thereto was a litigation partner in law firms in the Washington metropolitan area. She received her law degree from Washington College of Law.

Judge Biro ALJ Certificate of Appointment (jpg)


Honorable Christine Donelian Coughlin

Judge Coughlin joined EPA in 2013 as an Administrative Law Judge and thereafter was duly appointed by the Administrator. From 2011 to 2013, she served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. Previously, she worked for the National Appeals Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducting administrative reviews of hearing level decisions. Prior to federal service, she worked as a hearing officer for the State of Florida. She received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.

Judge Coughlin ALJ Certificate of Appointment (pdf) (1.2 MB)


Honorable Michael B. Wright

Judge Wright joined EPA in September 2010 as a staff attorney in the Office of Administrative Law Judges. He later served as a supervisory attorney. He was appointed to serve as an Administrative Law Judge in December 2023. Prior to joining the EPA, he worked as a trial lawyer in private practice and as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento, California. He is a veteran of the United States Navy. Judge Wright received his law degree from Tulane University School of Law.

Judge Wright ALJ Certificate of Appointment (pdf) (1.09 MB)

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Last updated on January 13, 2025
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