10/27/2009 02:35:42 PM EST
Hon. William B. Whiteley, Presiding Judge, Calif. Division of Workers’ Compensation, to Retire
SANTA ANA, CA - Hon. William B. Whiteley, Presiding Judge of the Santa Ana District Office, will be retiring November 13, 2009.
He entered the U.S. Navy from St. Aloysius Academy in Rome, New York, in 1950.
He retired from the U.S. Navy on September 1, 1973, after serving as an executive officer of the Guided Missile Cruiser Halsey. Prior to the Halsey, he served three other tours in Viet Nam, one on Admiral Wellander’s staff aboard the USS Kittyhawk, and two other’s with U.S. Naval Forces ashore and afloat.
On retirement from the U.S. Navy, he went to work for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and remained there until he was admitted to the California Bar.
He graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1978 and was sworn in as an attorney in November 1978.
He entered private practice until he joined the Law Firm of Scott O’Mara and later moved to the Law Firm of Susan England.
He was appointed a Workers’ compensation Judge in August of 1990 and assigned to the Norwalk District Office. While serving as presiding judge of Norwalk, he was appointed as Assistant Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
He served as Acting Presiding Judge of the Fresno District Office in 1992.
At the end of Governor Wilson’s first term, he accepted the position of Presiding Judge of San Bernardino and the Lien Unit in Santa Ana.
One year later, he accepted the position as Regional Manager for the Southern Region of the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
In 2002 the position of Presiding Judge in San Bernardino became available, and he served there until the Santa Ana District Office opened. He is currently serving as Presiding Judge of Santa Ana.
He has periodically served as a member of the Board of Governor’s of the California Conference of Workers’ Compensation Judges.
He also conceptualized, developed and implemented the Workers’ Compensation Information Center.
In addition, he served as a Reserve Fish and Game Warden from 1978 until recently and prior to retirement from the U.S. Navy, he served as a Reserve San Diego County Deputy Sheriff.
He has raised ten children and numerous grandchildren.