OK: New Administrative Law Judge Joins the Workers’ Comp Commission

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) - Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC)- The WCC has announced the appointment of John Blodgett to the position of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), effective September 3^rd 2019. He will be filling a newly created ALJ position in Oklahoma City. He will report to Chief ALJ Shane Curtin and the three Commissioners of the WCC.

The WCC currently employs five administrative Law Judges and administered over 7,900 cases in 2018.

Blodgett will begin hearing workers’ compensation cases in Oklahoma City as a part of his duties with the WCC.

Chairman Mark Liotta said, “We look forward to having John join our team here at our Oklahoma City offices. We continuously review our case volume, and it was clear we could improve our service to the people of Oklahoma by adding another ALJ position. He has the right experience and the right temperament to fill that position.”

John will be leaving his position at the law offices of R. Ted Leslie, PLLC when he joins the WCC in September. For the last ten years John has focused his career on workers’ compensation law, representing respondents in workers’ comp cases as well as having some limited experience representing claimants.

John received his Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Cameron University. After a few years of teaching in Lawton he matriculated to the University of Oklahoma to earn his Juris Doctorate. He currently lives in Norman with his wife Holly and two daughters.

Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system was reformed in 2013, establishing the Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act (Act). The Act created the Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) which became fully operational effective February 1, 2014.The WCC provides a forum for workers’ compensation hearings and appeals, ensures compliance with relevant statutes by employers, and regulates organizations who wish to self-fund their workers’ compensation obligations.

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