Governor Appoints Joe Cortese as Workers' Compensation Commissioner

Since August of 2014, when Chris Godfrey resigned as workers' compensation commissioner to become Chief Judge of the Employment Compensation Appeal Board, practitioners have waited for the Governor to appoint a new commissioner.  Deputy Miki McGovern was named acting commissioner in September of 2014 and has been acting in that capacity since that time.  On February 2, 2015, the governor named Joe Cortese as the new workers' compensation commissioner, effective February 16, 2015.

Joe is a partner at Huber, Book, Cortese and Lanz, where has practiced since his admission to the bar in 1981.  Joe practices primarily as a defense attorney in the workers' compensation area.  The workers' compensation commissioner is appointed to a six year term and under the provisions of the law the position is not considered to be a political appointment.   His nomination is subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

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