All NC workers’ comp judges could be fired

Workers in North Carolina are about to be dealt another blow. Hidden in the budget bill being debated by the NC Legislature is a part that allows judges (called deputy commissioners) to be fired without any reason. Seven could lose their jobs in February, seven in August, and the rest six months later.

Why should we care? Because if you work in North Carolina, you are at risk of injury. You want judges who can decide workers’ cases without worrying about whether finding in the employee’s favor will cost them their jobs. Until now, all judges in North Carolina have had their jobs protected from politics and bias. It is wrong to take away their independence.

Workers’ comp is complicated. We have experienced judges that we need to keep. If this part of the budget passes, we can have judges that won’t know the law and can be fired at any time.