Who reviews the Administrative Law Judge's recommended order and issues the final order?

• A. The Florida Supreme Court
• B. The District Court of Appeals
• C. Final order panel
• D. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Answer: (C)

After an Administrative Law Judge issues a recommended order, the agency that handled the case reviews that recommendation and issues the final order. This task is carried out by the Final Order Panel, a body within the agency designated to render the agency’s final action. The higher courts (Florida Supreme Court or District Courts of Appeal) are involved only if a party seeks judicial review of the final order later, not in the internal process of reviewing the ALJ’s recommendation. The department oversees the process, but the formal final disposition comes from the Final Order Panel.