FMC Adds Two Additional Administrative Law Judges on Temporary Basis

Two administrative law judges have been detailed from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Federal Maritime Commission's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) through the end of the fiscal year.

The temporary details of Judge Jamie Mendelson and Judge Debra Tesh were finalized through a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies. The two administrative law judges began work at the FMC on January 26, 2026.

Judge Mendelson has served as a Supervisory Administrative Law Judge in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals since 2019. She previously served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration, an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and an active-duty Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force. She continues to serve in the Air Force Reserve and is currently appointed as an Appellate Judge on the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Judge Mendelson received her J.D. from Stanford Law School, and her B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles. She is a member of the California bar.

Judge Tesh has served as a Supervisory Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals since 2019. She previously served as a Senior Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings in Washington state, primarily hearing public assistance and protective services appeals. As an attorney, she represented the Washington state Department of Health and Human Services; and was an Assistant Attorney General for Western State Mental Hospital and the McNeil Island Special Commitment Center. Judge Tesh received her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Washington. She is a member of the Washington State bar.

The Commission has experienced a significant increase in the number and complexity of cases filed with its OALJ, many involving disputes emanating from the pandemic-era supply chain disruption. Adding two additional judges will permit the OALJ to ensure timely adjudication of the record number of pending proceedings.

The judges will serve with Chief Administrative Law Judge Erin M. Wirth, Judges Linda S. Crovella and Alex M. Chintella, and previously detailed Judges Richard Ambrow and Mary Hervey.