The National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary was founded in 2009 to provide educational opportunities for workers’ compensation adjudicators at the trial and appellate level throughout the United States. Since its founding, NAWCJ has hosted an annual Workers’ Compensation Judiciary College in Orlando, Florida, in conjunction with the Workers’ Compensation Institute’s (WCI) Educational Conference.
The 2023 Judiciary College will be held at the World Center Marriott in Orlando from August 20-23. Admission to the Annual College is restricted to adjudicators and includes three days of educational instruction as well as social events. Registrants are also admitted to all WCI seminars and workshops, the Exhibit Hall, and conference-wide social events. The WCI conference is one of the largest gatherings of workers’ compensation professionals in the United States. In addition to these great benefits, the biggest reward of attending the Annual College is the fellowship and friendships that develop.
The NAWCJ offers other educational opportunities, such as the virtual Lunch and Learn programs and the New Judges’ Boot Camp. The 2023 Boot Camp will take place February 28 through March 2 and offers virtual instruction over three days. The program is open to all judges, but specifically targeted to judges with three or fewer years of experience.
NAWCJ also collaborates with other workers’ compensation organizations, such as SAWCA (Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators) and the IAIABC (International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions) to present joint judicial programs throughout the year.
Workers’ compensation is a unique area of the law. There are common themes from state to state, but each state’s statutes, rules, and regulations have evolved in response to the mix of industries and occupations unique to each state. Despite those differences, the issues we face as adjudicators are often similar. Although we have different titles – judges, administrative judges, hearing officers, and commissioners – we all aim to ensure that workers’ compensation claims are fairly and promptly heard and decided, based on the facts and applicable laws, free of bias or inappropriate influence. We are better prepared to achieve that goal through continuing judicial education, the exchange of ideas, and the professional support of colleagues available through NAWCJ. Ours is the only source of workers’ compensation-specific education and training, provided by adjudicators for adjudicators.
Please consider becoming a member of NAWCJ. The greatest strength of our organization is its diversity – judges and administrators from around the country. A membership application can be found on this website, or feel free to contact me.
If you would like to become more actively involved with NAWCJ, please review the Committees page and consider serving on one of our many committees.
I look forward to meeting you and working with you!
Judge Pamela B. Johnson
Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
pamela.johnson@tn.gov