Tonight I received word that Rosa Moran has died.
Most recently Moran had been on medical leave from her post as a Workers’ Compensation Judge in Oakland.
In 2011 Governor Brown appointed her as the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Her tenure there was turbulent and short. With DIR head Christine Baker, Moran went on a “listening tour” visiting various sites around the state to hear about issues in the comp system.
This was during the run-up period to the 2012 SB 863 negotiations, and Moran was involved in those negotiations.
I recall speaking to her a number of times during that period as she attempted to forge compromise on elements of the reform by talking to various stakeholders.
She was forced out by others in the Brown Administration and resigned her post as AD in September 2012 to return to her slot as a WCJ.
Before becoming a judge, Moran had operated her own office in Oakland as an applicant attorney.
The words that described the Rosa Moran I knew were cheerful, kind, committed, steady, practical, generous, patient.
In her service as an applicant attorney, judge and administrator she always had the best interests of the worker and the system in mind.
At the end of the day she was a really good person . I am sure that her many friends in the industry will be distressed to hear that she has passed away.
R.I.P., Rosa.
Julius Young