Administrative – Pro Se Litigant – Documentary Evidence 

The pro se petitioner gave respondent neither notice nor copies of petitioner’s documents prior to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The ALJ was patient, even going so far as to walk petitioner through building a foundation for a piece of evidence; however, petitioner made no offer to place her documents into evidence. The ALJ dd not prevent petitioner from presenting her evidence. 

We affirm judgment for respondent. 

The ALJ’s order explains that petitioner attempted to hand over voluminous records for the ALJ to sift through. It is not the ALJ’s duty nor prerogative to present one side’s case – pro se litigants included. 

Portee v. N.C. Department of Health & Human Services (Lawyers Weekly No 012-288-22, 6 pp.) (Chris Dillon, J.) Appealed from Cumberland County Superior Court (Mary Ann Tally, J.) Quintin Byrd for petitioner; Erin Gibbs for respondent. 2022-NCCOA-470