James D. McGinley, Chair and Chief Judge
James D. McGinley is one of the Department of Labor’s most senior combat Veterans. Chief Judge McGinley was appointed as Chair of the Board and Chief Administrative Appeals Judge in April 2020. He most recently served as the Clerk of the Court for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Formerly a partner in the civil litigation firm of Hiepler & Hiepler, Chief Judge McGinley also served as a Judge (Pro Tem) for the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Ventura. He possesses extensive experience in complex civil litigation, international negotiation, enterprise-wide leadership, and the management of multi-agency projects. Chief Judge McGinley holds a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California. He also served as the Editor of the California Survey for the Pepperdine Law Review. He received a Master of Laws in National Security Law, and a Certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, both from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. He is a member of the California, District of Columbia, and United States Supreme Court bars.
Thomas H. Burrell, Member
Thomas H. Burrell was appointed to the Administrative Review Board in April 2019. Judge Burrell began his federal service with the Board in 2006. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Illinois State University and his law degree from the Washington College of Law American University where he served on the American University Law Review. Judge Burrell is a member of the Virginia State Bar.
Randel K. Johnson, Member
Randel K. Johnson was appointed to the Administrative Review Board in April 2020. Formerly a partner in the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw, his career history includes stints with the Department of Labor’s Office of Administrative of Law Judges, the Department’s Office of the Solicitor, serving as Labor Counsel to the United States House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee and as Senior Vice President for Labor, Immigration & Employee Benefits with the US Chamber of Commerce. Judge Johnson is a graduate of the University of Maryland Law School and holds a Masters of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Graduate Certificate from Harvard University’s Senior Managers in Government Program. He is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia and various Federal bars. Johnson is also a Member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. His bookend achievements of his time on Capitol Hill include work leading to enactment of the American with Disabilities Act and the Congressional Accountability Act extending private sector employment laws to the Congress for the first time.
Stephen M. Godek, Member
Stephen Godek was appointed to the Administrative Review Board at the Department of Labor in December 2020. Judge Godek previously served for 11 years as a Board Member on the HHS Departmental Appeals Board and as an Administrative Appeals Judge on the DAB Medicare Appeals Council. Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Godek served as Senior Counsel to the HHS Office of Counsel to the Inspector General. During his tenure at OCIG, Judge Godek concurrently served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Godek began his government service as Senior Counsel to the HHS Office of General Counsel, where he represented the HHS Office of Research Integrity. Judge Godek graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in American Government and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for the Honorable Joseph J. Longobardi, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Judge Godek is a member of the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.