Cases & Decisions

Online NLRB decisions are offered in PDF format. Slip opinions are subject to revision before publication in bound volumes.

The Board decisions listed here are not intended or appropriate for publication and are not binding precedent, except with respect to the parties in the specific case. The Board began posting unpublished decisions on February 4, 2011.

After a Regional Director issues a complaint in an unfair labor practice case, an NLRB Administrative Law Judge hears the case and issues a decision and recommended order, which can then be appealed to the Board in Washington. If no exceptions are filed, the judge's order becomes the order of the Board. An administrative law judge's decision is not binding legal precedent in other cases unless it has been adopted by the Board on review of exceptions; these judges function much like trial court judges hearing a case without a jury.

Advice memoranda issue guidance to regional office directing dismissal of charges.

After the Board issues a decision and final order in a contested unfair labor practice case, any person aggrieved may seek review of the final order, and the Board may seek enforcement of its order, in an appropriate United States Court of Appeals.

The Special Litigation Branch represents the Board and the General Counsel in all suits not statutorily based on Sections 10(e) and (f) of the Act.

The National Labor Relations Board occasionally invites the public and all interested parties to file amicus briefs in cases of significance or high interest.

The Weekly Summary of Decisions is a digest of decisions issued by the Board and Administrative Law Judges the previous week, with a short description of the nature and facts of the case and a link to the decision, and also desicions by Appellate Courts involving NLRB cases.

Four types of Regional election Decisions are available here:

• Decisions and Directions of Elections (D&DEs) - the Regional Director concludes that the prerequisites to an election have been satisfied and directs that an election be conducted.
• Decisions and Orders (D&Os) - the Regional Director determines that an election should not be conducted and the petition is dismissed.
• Administrative Report on Objections and Challenges - a report resolving post-election objections and/or challenges based on a

Links to tools and resources for legal researchers.