Governor Newsom Appoints Joseph Capurro as Commissioner of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board

Governor Gavin Newsom is receiving praise from practitioners across the State of California for his most recent appointment of renowned workers’ compensation practitioner, scholar and frequent lecturer, Joseph Capurro as Commissioner of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.  In 2016, Mr. Capurro was honored by the then State Bar of California Workers’ Compensation Section (now the CLA WC Section) with the Steve Jimenez Memorial Special Recognition Award as Applicant’s Attorney in the field of Workers Compensation. 

Julius Young, a prominent applicant’s attorney and partner at Boxer Gerson of Oakland, California and frequent contributor to the CLA WC Section publications, welcomed Governor Newsom’s appointment of Joseph Capurro as Commissioner, emphasizing that “Capurro is a distinguished veteran applicant attorney who has practiced in San Jose. Ethical, knowledgeable, and compassionate, Capurro is an excellent choice for the WCAB.”

The Governor’s announcement stated Joe Capurro, 68, of San Jose, has been appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. Capurro has been a sole practitioner since 2012. He was an attorney and managing partner at Capurro, Rocha & Schmidt from 1980 to 2012. Capurro is a member of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,463. Capurro is a Democrat.