Justice Department Regulatory Updates – March 2, 2026

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1. Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer Electronic Filing

Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/02/2026-04136/office-of-the-chief-administrative-hearing-officer-electronic-filing

Sub: Justice Department, Executive Office for Immigration Review

Content: The Executive Office for Immigration Review ("EOIR") is implementing electronic filing and records applications for all cases before the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer ("OCAHO"). This interim final rule ("IFR") updates the relevant regulations necessary to implement these electronic filing and records applications, including by requiring certain users to file documents electronically and changing service of process methods. This IFR also includes several additional minor changes to OCAHO's rules of practice and procedure to clarify and improve upon the existing regulatory language.

2. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Clonazolam, Diclazepam, Etizolam, Flualprazolam, and Flubromazolam in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act

Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/02/2026-04112/schedules-of-controlled-substances-placement-of-clonazolam-diclazepam-etizolam-flualprazolam-and

Sub: Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration

Content: With the issuance of this final rule, the Drug Enforcement Administration places clonazolam, diclazepam, etizolam, flualprazolam, and flubromazolam and their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. These five substances were temporarily scheduled in an order dated July 26, 2023, and subsequently extended until July 26, 2026, pursuant to an extension published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. This action also enables the United States to meet its obligations under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. This action makes permanent the existing regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle these five specific controlled substances.

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