AWCC Names Douthit as Administrative Law Judge

The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC) appointed Dale Douthit, a Russellville attorney, as its newest Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

The AWCC, administrator of the state’s workers’ compensation laws, serves as the referee if misunderstandings arise between employees claiming job-related injuries and the insurance representatives of their employers.

The ALJs hold hearings to arbitrate between parties and then issue opinions to resolve disputes regarding the state workers’ compensation laws, rules, and other related matters.

Douthit received a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing in 1990 from Russellville’s Arkansas Tech University, and his Juris Doctor in 1994 from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville.

He served early in his career with the Eddy law firm and the Phillips & Douthit firm, both in Russellville. He later was a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Fifth Judicial District and, for the last four years, he was a Licensed Attorney Ad Litem, specializing in dependency, neglect, domestic relations and parental counseling cases.

ALJ Douthit will preside over workers’ compensation hearings in District 6, comprised of Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier and Union counties. He will share the ALJ duties in that district with Judge J. Mark White.