SC Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing on Workers’ Compensation Commissioners

The Senate Judiciary Committee managed to review and move to confirm two Workers’ Compensation Commission seats. 

The hearing was long with many Senators asking questions of the two candidates.  The committee must reconvene to continue its work because two other seats must be filled. 

City of Cayce, SC, Mayor Avery Wilkerson was questioned for over an hour, mostly by the trial lawyers that sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he responded well to their questions as well as the questions Senator Glenn McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, asked, Mr. Wilkerson is an independent insurance agent who understands the workers compensation system well from the insurance point of view. The lawyers on the Judiciary Committee who practice before the Workers’ Compensation Commission recused themselves from voting on Wilkerson, who passed with a 15 to 0 vote.

Ms. Andrea P. Roche, a seated commissioner has been appointed Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Commission by Governor Sanford. Her term as chair is for two years. The current chair is Mr. David W. Huffstetler’s term as chair expired.  Both Mr. Huffstetler’s and Ms. Roche’s terms on the commission expires in 2012.

Ms. Roche was questioned by the Judiciary Committee. In fact, at one point, the committee recessed to allow her to call her attorney to see if she could answer a question because there are federal and state law suits pending on issues involving the Governor’s executive orders to the Commission.  Nevertheless, after the numerous questions, Ms. Roche passed committee muster and also had a 15 to 0 vote. Ms. Roche is an attorney.

The process for seating Workers’ Compensation Commissioners involves several steps. First, the Governor appoints individuals to the Workers’ Compensation Commission, but they must be approved by a majority of the SC Senate.  These candidates must pass the Senate Judiciary Committee screening before going to the full Senate.

Ms. Roche and Mr. Wilkerson will be given a favorable standing when they come before the Senate of approval.

The Senate Judiciary Committee did not get to two other candidates, Mr. Derrick Williams and Mr. Sam Painter at meeting this week. The committee will be reconvened to screen these two men.

Mr. Derrick Williams, who was appointed by the Governor to complete an unexpired term, has been appointed for another six year. He must be screened by the Senate Judiciary Committee and approved by the Senate just as he would if this was his first term. Mr. Williams is an attorney.

Mr. Sam Painter, an attorney who has practiced workers’ compensation law is the last of the Governor’s appointments. Mr. Painter is expected to undergo many questions from the trial attorneys on the Judiciary Committee.