Chief Deputy Commissioner James J. Szablewicz Named President of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary

Press Release

Press Release Date

 
Chief Deputy Commissioner James J. Szablewicz

[Orlando, FL]- The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission is pleased to announce that on August 21, 2018, Chief Deputy Commissioner James J. Szablewicz was named President of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary, Inc. (NAWCJ) at its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Founded in 2009, the NAWCJ is a non-profit organization designed to provide educational opportunities exclusively for the workers’ compensation judiciary at the trial or appellate level. Designed to enhance justice within the workers’ compensation system, regardless of state or jurisdiction, the association is coordinated and overseen by members of the judiciary directly responsible for the adjudication of workers’ compensation matters. The mission of the association is to provide educational forums for the workers’ compensation judiciary concerning issues that are unique to this system of justice. Emphasis is placed on providing an educational resource and national forum that will enhance the ability of workers’ compensation judges on a national scale to deal with a commonality of issues, regardless of the substantive laws of the different states.

“Being chosen to lead the only national organization of workers’ compensation judges truly is an honor and I cannot think of a more exciting time to be a part of this great organization,” said Szablewicz. “I look forward to building upon the progress of the NAWCJ’s first decade and working to develop exceptional educational opportunities for workers’ compensation adjudicators across the country.”

Szablewicz received his B.A. in Political Science from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Prior to becoming Chief Deputy Commissioner in 2004, he served as a Deputy Commissioner for two years, and was engaged in the private practice of law on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for 11 years. Szablewicz was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in March 2014.

 

About The Commission

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC), established in 1918, is an independent judicial and administrative state agency that oversees the workers’ compensation system for employees, employers, and insurers. VWC interprets and applies the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act and resolves claims through hearings and mediation. A 2016 Oregon study ranked Virginia as the fifth-lowest cost system in the nation. Leading the way in electronic data and claims filing systems, in 2017 VWC processed over 48,000 claims and issued over 4,200 judicial opinions. VWC also administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, the Uninsured Employer’s Fund, and adjudicates claims under the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, VWC operates regional offices in Bristol, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Manassas, and Fairfax.

 

For more information about the VWC, visit www.workcomp.virginia.gov. For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Charles Steepleton at 1-877-664-2566 or email questions@workcomp.virginia.gov.