Opinion ID: 6536571
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Commission violated Ayala's due process right to a fair hearing by issuing an order without reviewing findings and determinations from the referee.

Text: Ayala argues that the Commission erred by issuing an opinion without recommended findings and determinations from the referee and that it acted in excess of the statutory authority granted to it in Idaho Code section 72-717. SIF, on the other hand, argues that Idaho Code section 72-717 authorizes the Commission to either adopt or reject a referee's findings, so it is immaterial that the referee did not prepare such findings. SIF also contends that Ayala received due process in the hearing before the referee, and the hearing was recorded in a transcript for the Commission to review. We hold that the Commission violated Ayala's due process right to a fair hearing. Even though the Idaho Industrial Commission is an administrative agency situated within the executive department of our state government, the commissioners exercise judicial functions in their role as adjudicators of private disputes between workers and their employers and sureties. See, e.g., I.C. § 72-501(5) (As an official exercising judicial functions, [a member of the commission] shall not engage in partisan political activities and shall conform his conduct to commonly acceptable standards of judicial ethics.). Arthur Larson in his leading treatise on worker's compensation law explained that, in the spectrum of administrative agencies ... the compensation commission ... while deciding controverted claims ... is as far towards the judicial end of the spectrum as it is possible to go without being an outright court. Arthur Larson, Workers' Compensation, § 79:90 (Desk ed. 2000). The Commission, as part of its many duties and responsibilities, is authorized to adopt rules and regulations governing judicial matters. I.C. § 72-508. Much like this Court has adopted the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, the Commission has adopted the Judicial Rules of Practice and Procedure (JRP) to protect the rights of the parties from the time a worker's compensation complaint is filed until a decision is rendered. Section 72-506(1) of the Idaho Code authorizes the Commission to appoint a referee to conduct hearings on its behalf: Any investigation, inquiry or hearing which the commission has power to undertake or hold may be undertaken or held by or before any member thereof or any hearing officer, referee or examiner appointed by the commissioner.