Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Judge Thomas L. Johnson as Chief Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA).

Johnson, of Eagan, has been a Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals Judge since 1992, and has served as Chief Judge since 2002. He was a trial judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings from 1987 to 1992, an attorney and partner with the Scholle and Scholle law firm in Minneapolis from 1977 to 1987, where he specialized in insurance defense litigation in the areas of workers’ compensation, person injury, products liability, no-fault liability, uninsured motorist arbitration, fire and casualty and subrogation claims. From 1973 to 1977, Johnson was an attorney and partner in the Minneapolis law firm of Callinan and Raidt, where he practiced in the areas of corporate law, real estate, personal injury, anti-trust law, and domestic relations. He was also an attorney in the Minneapolis City Attorney’s office from 1971 to 1973, and an attorney with Briggs Transportation Company in Roseville from 1969 to 1971.

Johnson earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1969, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1966.

Johnson is a member and past president of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation, and served on the boards of directors of the National Conference of Bar Foundations, and Volunteer Lawyers Network. He is a moot court competition judge, a mentor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and a frequent workers’ compensation lecturer at legal seminars. Johnson’s community activities include having served as a youth hockey, baseball and soccer coach. He is also past president of the Eagan Hockey Association. Johnson is reappointed Chief Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals for another six-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

The Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals has statewide appellate jurisdiction over all workers’ compensation appeals. The court consists of five judges appointed by the Governor who have experience with and knowledge of workers’ compensation laws and have been licensed to practice law in Minnesota for at least five years.