Created in 1979 by mayoral executive order and established as a charter agency in 1988, OATH is the City's independent administrative law court and is authorized to conduct trials and hearings for several agencies of the City of New York. The Mayor appoints the Chief Administrative Law Judge. OATH has three divisions responsible for adjudicating City matters: OATH Trials Division, OATH Hearings Division and OATH Special Education Hearings Division. The Trials Division adjudicates a wide range of issues that can be referred by any City agency, board, or commission. Its caseload includes employee discipline hearings for civil servants, Conflicts of Interest Board cases, proceedings related to the retention of seized vehicles by the police, City-issued license revocation cases, real estate, zoning and loft law violations, City contract disputes, cases involving violations of workplace laws and the City Human Rights Law. Trials are conducted by Administrative Law Judges who are appointed to five-year terms. Hearings at the Hearings Division are conducted by Judicial Hearing Officers on summonses issued by more than 25 different City enforcement agencies for alleged violations of law or City rules. The Special Education Hearings Division adjudicates disputes about special education services provided to New York City children. OATH also houses the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution, which provides mediation and restorative justice support to City government agencies and the Administrative Judicial Institute, a resource center that provides training, continuing education and support services for the City’s Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers.