San Francisco, CA – The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently announced that it has posted the 2021 Ethics Advisory Committee’s annual report on its website. T
The Workers’ Compensation Ethics Advisory Committee is a state committee independent from the DWC that is charged with reviewing and monitoring complaints of misconduct filed against workers’ compensation administrative law judges.
The Ethics Advisory Committee is required to make a public report each year summarizing activities in the previous calendar year.
The DWC noted that 2021 was extraordinary in many ways. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to create challenges and difficulties that impacted everyone. Our second year into the pandemic, the Department of Industrial Relations, and notably the Division of Workers’ Compensation, continued to ensure access to state services and the safety of the public and its employees. This year, the Division of Workers’ Compensation was able to resume limited in-person hearings for trials, lien trials, expedited hearings, and special adjudication (SAU) trials.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the Workers’ Compensation Ethics Advisory Committee continued its work investigating judicial misconduct complaints against Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judges. In virtual, online meetings held quarterly, the Advisory Committee reviewed complaints and, as appropriate, recommended investigations to the Administrative Director and the Chief Judge of the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
In 2021, the Advisory Committee filled two vacant positions, appointing Chris Willmon and Presiding Judge William Gunn to serve on the Committee. The integrity of the adjudicatory function of the workers’ compensation system is sustained by a continual, impartial review of complaints, and the director thanked the Advisory Committee for their essential work in the area.
The 2021 annual report may be viewed or downloaded at the DWC website (DOCX).
Source: CA DWC