By Jane Salem, staff attorney, Nashville

Last month, our very own Judge Pamela B. Johnson was inducted into the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary 2024 Adjudicators Hall of Fame.

Judge Johnson says she was “surprised and very honored” by the NAWCJ recognition, which she received at the group’s annual meeting in Orlando. She remarks, “It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 10 years.”

Judge Johnson has been active in the NAWCJ since the day she took the judicial oath in July 2014. In fact, when the Court was in its infancy, members of the NAWCJ came to Tennessee to share their expertise—so it could be said that even before she donned the robe, she’s been involved with the organization.

She joins former Bureau of Workers’ Compensation administrator Abbie Hudgens as a NAWCJ honoree.

The criteria for selection into the NAWCJ Hall of Fame include:

• NAWCJ membership, and eight years of exemplary service as an adjudicator of workers’ compensation issues;
• A record of notable service to the NAWCJ, defined as multi-faceted contributions to the ideals and goals of the organization;
• A record of service including educating, speaking, writing, advocating, and/or involvement with entities assisting those affected by workplace injuries.

Judge Johnson’s contributions to the NAWCJ include service as president from 2022 to 2023.

She has also chaired the New Judges’ Bootcamp Committee since 2020 which plans the biannual, two-day intense training for new workers’ compensation judges across the country.

Judge Johnson recalls that, in early 2020, the group quickly had to transition from the planned in-person format to virtual. So that raised a few challenges, since teleconferencing was very new to many people in the early days of the pandemic. But the committee quickly realized that holding the program virtually was the preferred mode, given the cost- and time-savings it offered. Since then, every bootcamp has been virtual.

In addition to planning, Judge Johnson makes sure that the bootcamp comes off seamlessly from a technology standpoint. This means that she hosts the meeting, collects every presenter’s PowerPoint and flips the slides as they speak, and answers technology questions from the attendees. “It’s a little stressful,” she says with a laugh. (Judges aren’t generally known for their aptitude with technology—but Judge Johnson is an exception and is never afraid to experiment.)

Along these lines, Judge Johnson has chaired the NAWCJ Lunch and Learn Committee since 2021, which plans virtual educational sessions for all NAWCJ members held twice annually. The programs tend to focus on emerging issues, such as courtroom security and best practices with self-represented litigants. They’re also a great way to stay connected with members in between the annual meetings.

Judge Johnson says the best aspect of NAWCJ membership is collegiality.

“I’ve been able to make very meaningful connections with individuals from other states who do exactly what we do,” she says. “I can call other members and discuss an issue and receive really helpful feedback.”

She also enjoys seeing the nuances of comp law and how it plays out in different states. For example, one state appoints judges for life, while another allows jury trials, and still another caps attorney fees for employees—yet the number of represented litigants is extremely high. Tennessee’s system is just one of 50 states’ (and D.C.’s) varying approaches. There’s always something new and interesting.

Beside NAWCJ, Judge Johnson has always been active in professional organizations since becoming a lawyer: the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, and the East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women. To all the practitioners reading this, she urges getting involved in any group that will enhance your practice and the practice of law generally. (You’ll probably make some great friends, too.)

Judge Johnson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1997, and her law degree from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2000.

She has been married to Brian Johnson for 26 years, and they have two sons, a high school sophomore and college senior. The family “love[s] anything and everything UT,” she says. Her third “son,” Cooper, also loves UT.

Judge Johnson additionally enjoys travel and especially cruises, and to curl up nightly with a book, usually a mystery or suspense novel.

Congratulations, Judge Johnson!