Greetings from the President
By Sheral C. Kellar, President
National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Judge – Chief
Louisiana Workforce Commission
“Throw me something mister”
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, many states celebrated Mardi Gras, especially Louisiana. Some say Mardi Gras originated in Mobile, Alabama, but I have my doubts about that. I’m a Louisiana girl. No one does Mardi Gras better or quite like the Big Easy; regardless of its origin. Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” is preceded by Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent, a 40 day season of renewal and reflection, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025. Lent is based on three Christian principles. All of us can benefit from these three principles, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, regardless of your religious beliefs.
Most define prayer as communicating with a higher power. While that is correct, prayer can also be an earnest hope or desire. “My prayer for you is that you have continued good health.” Prayer can be an expression of gratitude or thankfulness. “Thank you for all that I am and ever hope to be.” Essentially, prayer is an expression of desire for yourself or for others. During Lenten season, focus on a desire to be the best workers’ compensation judge you can be. Prayers of thanksgiving also seek guidance and a thankful heart. Be mindful every day of the things that you have, the things you have achieved, and the platform you now occupy. From this platform, you have the unenviable role of being able to dispense justice to thousands less fortunate than yourself. Let all of us do so with the grace, dignity, and temperament deserving of our role as workers’ compensation adjudicators.
Most of you are aware that in observance of Lent, people of varying faiths traditionally abstain from meat on Fridays. We practice self-control through fasting. People fast in different ways during the Lenten season. I gave up chocolate. You see, I’m a chocoholic! This is not an easy thing for me. However, while fasting from chocolate, I am mindful that eating loads of sugar is not healthy. Abstaining from chocolate also gives me an opportunity to focus on my health, to make better food choices, and to lose weight; a little lagniappe (a word likely of Spanish origin “something given as a bonus or extra gift”). In addition to the health benefits of fasting, it can promote introspection, humility, and create a space for focused reflection. Food is not the only thing from which we can fast. Television, social media, using offensive language, swearing, on-line purchases, smoking, and drinking alcohol are all activities from which to fast. During this Lenten season, adjudicators can reflect on the enormous power they have to implement change. I am not suggesting that you become activists. What I am suggesting is that you seek guidance to be the best adjudicator ever. If your bench presence is not what you would want it to be, focus on how you can make it better. If your decisions are not well-reasoned and self-briefing, take time to focus on your judicial writing skills. If your judicial temperament is a topic of water cooler discussion, take the time to practice mindfulness.
Almsgiving is the third principle of the Lenten Season. Almsgiving is a way to extend compassion and mercy to those in need. Throughout the year, many of us give to our state chapter of the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program. The NAWCJ gives to the National Kids’ Chance Foundation. Kids’ Chance provides scholarships to children of workers who have been killed or significantly disabled in an accident compensable under a state or federal Workers’ Compensation law. Usually, Kids’ Chance has more money than it has recipients. Nevertheless, keep giving – not just during Lenten season but all year round. Kudos to us who think of those less fortunate than ourselves. When you are on the bench dispensing judgment, find out if the recipient of a death benefit or an award of permanent and total disability has a school-age child whose dream of going to a post-secondary institution has been affected by the loss of a parent or the parent’s income. Remember to give that name to your state affiliate of Kids’ Chance.
Many know Mardi Gras as a celebration of parades, frivolity, and controlled pandemonium. It is that and much more. It is the end of a season of unrestrained inhibitions and to reiterate, the beginning of a season of renewal and reflection. Its colors green, purple, and gold symbolize justice, faith, and power, respectively. These colors reflect the epitome of our role as workers’ compensation judges. We should never take for granted the power to dispense justice or the faith that what we are doing is right. During this Lenten season we can all reflect on that.
Laissez les bon temps rouler
(“let the good times roll”)