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Minnesota Agencies

Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library


Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals

Also known as:
Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA)
Workmen's Compensation Court of Appeals
Active dates:1976 -
Function:

Has statewide appellate jurisdiction over all workers' compensation appeals within the court's jurisdiction as provided in Minn. Stat. 175A and 176.

History:

1976 Laws of Minn. Chap. 134 Sec. 78 reads in part: The name of the workmen's compensation commission is changed to the workmen's compensation court of appeals, and the workmen's compensation commissioners are to be known as judges of the workmen's compensation court of appeals.

By 1977 the name appears to have changed to Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals.

The Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA) was created as an independent agency of the executive branch of state government by Chapter 175A of the Minnesota Statutes. The court consists of five judges appointed to six-year terms by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The Governor designates one of the five as the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge is responsible for the administration of the court.

The WCCA has exclusive, statewide authority to review workers' compensation cases decided by compensation judges at the Office of Administrative Hearings and certain cases decided by the Workers' Compensation Division at the Department of Labor and Industry. A panel of three or five judges decides each appeal. A written decision must be issued within 90 days after a case has been assigned to a panel. The judges review the evidentiary record created at the initial hearing, preside over oral arguments, conduct legal research, decide the legal and factual issues appealed by the parties, and issue written orders, decisions and memoranda. Decisions are written to inform the parties and the public of the bases for the court's decisions and to create a body of law interpreting and applying Minnesota workers' compensation laws. Decisions of the WCCA are appealable directly to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Membership:

5 full-time judges; appointed by governor; senate confirmation required; 6-year terms on a full-time bases and are compensated $127,213 annually; members file with Ethical Practices Board.

Entries for this agency in the Annual Compilation and Statistical Report of Multi-Member Agencies Report: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978.

Note: This report provides membership details as well as meeting information and a summary of the group's activities.

Documents/Articles:
Governor Walz Reappoints the Honorable Patricia J. Milun to the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals. News Release (Governor Tim Walz), 1/18/2023.
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1977-2018.
Record last updated: 01/20/2023
 

All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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