WC Judges Must Officially Meet Performance Criteria
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 | 0
What has been unofficial for years may soon be part of the published rules in Florida: Workers' compensation judges will have to be reviewed against a set of performance criteria before they can be re-appointed.
It's part of the fallout from the day in 2016 that former workers' compensation Judge Gerardo Castiello was not renominated, said Robert Cohen, chief judge and director of the Division of Administrative Hearings. Castiello has filed a number of petitions for writs of mandamus with state courts, demanding that the office follow state law to the letter.
"We have provided this information for years. It's all in our annual report," said Cohen.
Castiello's petition pointed out that a 2003 state law requires the Office of Judges of Compensation Claims to adopt written rules on performance criteria, and the division is now complying, Cohen said.
Some of the criteria include the number of cases assigned and resolved, age of pending cases, and extraordinary fees awarded. The state's Judicial Nominating Commission would review the criteria.
The rules were published Tuesday, and public comment will be accepted until April 13, Cohen said. Any changes will be published a week later, opening a window for more comments. Without any major hiccups, the rules could become official early this summer.
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