Tennessee Judge Honored At National Conference
Honorable Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer Receives Award for Leadership and Service
NASHVILLE - A national association recently honored the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation's Chief Judge with its Leadership and Service Award for his role in creating and hosting the first New Judges' Boot Camp in Nashville earlier this year.
The National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ) presented the award to Chief Judge Kenneth M. Switzer at its annual business meeting. Each year the NAWCJ recognizes one member who exhibits exceptional and enduring dedication to the organization's mission of judicial education and enhancement of justice.
The boot camp that Chief Judge Switzer hosted in March 2018 gave newly appointed judges from across the country training in judicial ethics, settlement issues, conducting hearings and writing orders. Training at the boot camp reflected NAWCJ's efforts to provide educational forums for workers' compensation Judiciaries concerning issues unique to that system of justice.
The business meeting was part of the 73rd Annual WCI Workers' Compensation Educational Conference held at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. Tennessee was well represented at the conference, with five of the 12 trial judges in attendance.
Chief Judge Switzer brought over 37 years experience practicing law, representing both employees and employers when he assumed the workers' compensation bench in 2014. He played a pivotal role in executing the legislative mandate in the 2013 Workers' Compensation Reform Act to create the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. He received a B.A. in History from David Lipscomb College in 1973 and his J.D. from the University of Louisville in 1977.
Chief Judge Switzer is a retired "on the field" Ohio Valley Conference Football official, having worked as a referee for 13 years. He now works as an instant replay official for the Sun Belt Conference. He is an avid runner and had completed 30 marathons.
