By Hon. Pamela B. Johnson
Workers’ Compensation Judge (Tennessee)
REGISTER NOW and SAVE! In less than two months, the NAWCJ will host its virtual “boot camp” for new adjudicators. Becoming an adjudicator of workers’ compensation claims can be daunting. The New Judges’ Boot Camp is designed to make that transition smooth. At the virtual Boot Camp, newer adjudicators will hear from adjudicators, regulators, attorneys, and academics covering a wide range of topics that will impact their day-to-day work. The curriculum includes sessions discussing the origins of workers’ compensation laws, the transition from an advocate to an adjudicator, judicial writing, conducting hearings and handling discovery disputes, weighing evidence and ruling on objections, and dealing with unrepresented litigants.
Information regarding the agenda, program cost, and registration can be obtained from the NAWCJ website (http://nawcj.org). REGISTER NOW before February 1, pay the early-bird price of $150, and save $50. After February 1, the registration fee is $200. YOU MUST BE AN ADJUDICATOR TO ATTEND.
AGENDA
Day 1: Monday, March 1, 2021
Session 1 10:30am – 10:45am
Welcome & Introduction to Conference
Hon. Deneise Lott (Mississippi)
10:45am – 12:00pm
Orientation, Origins & Key Principles of Workers’ Compensation
Hon. Timothy W. Conner (Tennessee)
Hon. Jennifer Hopens (Texas)
Hon. David Torrey (Pennsylvania)
Break 12:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch Break
Session 2 2:00pm – 3:00pm
From Advocate to Adjudicator
Hon. Michael W. Alvey (Kentucky)
Hon. Pamela B. Johnson (Tennessee)
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Ethics for Judges: Can You Have Friends Anymore?
Marshall L. Davidson, III (Tennessee Chief Disciplinary Counsel)
Day 2: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Session 3 10:30am – 12:00pm
Evidentiary Issues: Dealing with Common Evidentiary Issues & Evaluation of Evidence
Hon. Frank McKay (Georgia)
Hon. Bruce Moore (Kansas)
Hon. Dale Tipps (Tennessee)
Professor Susan Kay JD, PhD (Vanderbilt Law Professor)
Break 12:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch Break
Session 4 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Procedural Issues: Conducting Hearings, Prehearing Conferences, Discovery Disputes & Conducting Virtual Hearings
Hon. Doug Gott (Kentucky)
Hon. Deneise Turner Lott (Mississippi)
Hon. Knowrasa Patrick (Washington)
3:30pm – 4:00pm
Settlements: To Approve or Not Approve?
Hon. Douglas Gott (Kentucky)
Hon. Pamela B. Johnson (Tennessee)
Hon. Deneise Turner Lott (Mississippi)
Day 3: Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Session 5 10:30am – 12:00pm
Judicial Writing: Basic Writing Principles for Preparing Orders
Matt Hearn, PhD. (Tennessee, Lipscomb University)
Elizabeth Usman, JD (Tennessee, Belmont Law)
Break 12:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch Break
Session 6 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Writing Effective Decisions & Creating an Appellate Record
Hon. Michael Alvey (Kentucky)
Hon. Timothy W. Conner (Tennessee)
Hon. Frank McKay (Georgia)
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Determining Causation Issues & Weighing Conflicting Opinions
Hon. William Culbreth (Virginia)
Hon. Knowrasa Patrick (Washington)
Dr. James B. Talmage (Tennessee, Asst. Medical Director)
Day 4: Thursday, March 4, 2021
Session 7 10:30am – 11:30am
Dealing with Unrepresented Litigants and Difficult Litigants
Hon. Robert Himmel (Virginia)
Hon. Bruce Moore (Kansas)
11:30am – 12:00pm
Understanding Cultural Differences and Language Barriers
Hon. William Culbreth (Virginia)
Hon. David Langham (Florida)
12:00pm
Closing
Hon. Deneise Lott (Mississippi)
To view the New Judges Boot Camp Brochure, click here.