Dysfunctional, Predator-Protecting U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Court System Grinds to Halt—Issues Only ONE Public Opinion in 2023
New York, NY
By: MLAA
So much for culture change in the U.S. maritime industry promised by Congress with passage of the Safer Seas Act.
The U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Court System, which is responsible for punishing predatory mariners, has sunk to a new low of dysfunction and embarrassment.
According to the Court’s website, there was only one published opinion issued by the Court’s SIX judges in all of 2023.
The published case is U.S. Coast Guard vs. Captain Korn, which began in 2019. According to the opinion, written by ALJ Timothy G. Stueve, the record for the case as well as the post-hearing briefs were complete on December 19, 2021.
However, Stueve did not get around to finishing the opinion in the case until March 3, 2023. That means Stueve needed 15 months to write an 18 page opinion, which was the only opinion he published during this period of time.
Stueve has at least two full time members of his legal staff, including an Attorney-Advisor who presumably did most of the work for Stueve.
Stueve is a 1988 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, which is embroiled in the Fouled Anchor sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Coast Guard in recent months.
Stueve was the only one of the 6 Coast Guard ALJ’s who bothered to publish an opinion in 2023.
This a record low output for the court, and begs the questions:
“What are these guys doing?”
and,
“When is Congress going to shut this sham court down for good?”
Chief Judge Walter J. Brudzinski - 0 opinions issued
Judge Timothy G. Stueve - 1 opinions issued
Judge Lineka N. Quijano - 0 opinions issued
Judge Tommy B. Cantrell - 0 opinions issued
Judge Brian J. Curley - 0 opinions issued
Judge George J. Jordan - 0 opinions issued