A Minnesota Request For Formal Hearing is a process used to appeal a decision made by a state or local government agency. It is a formal request for a hearing before an administrative law judge who will review the case and make a decision. There are two types of Minnesota Request for Formal Hearings: contested case hearings and contested issue hearings. Contested case hearings involve a dispute between two or more parties, and are most often used in disputes involving disciplinary actions, licensing, or other government decisions. Contested issue hearings are used when an individual seeks to challenge a law or rule, or to challenge the interpretation of a law or rule. In both types of hearings, the parties can present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and make legal arguments. The administrative law judge will make a decision based on the evidence and arguments presented.