The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has taken a strategic step to bolster its legal capacity amid rising maritime disputes by adding two additional Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) on a temporary basis. This move is expected to streamline resolution of cases arising from supply chain disruptions and complex shipping-related complaints.
The FMC’s Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) handles formal disputes filed under the Shipping Act, including complaints from shippers, carriers, and intermediaries that cannot be resolved informally. With a notable increase in filings since the pandemic, including more complex and high-stakes cases, the FMC recognized a need for greater judicial capacity. Adding judges helps ensure disputes are resolved efficiently, which supports greater legal certainty for stakeholders - especially shippers and freight operators navigating rate, demurrage, and contractual issues.
Who are the first two new judges
As of January 26, 2026, two experienced ALJs — Judge Jamie Mendelson and Judge Debra Tesh — began serving at the FMC through the remainder of the fiscal year. Both come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with extensive legal and adjudicatory backgrounds:
Judge Mendelson has served as a Supervisory ALJ and previously as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Judge Tesh brings experience as a Supervisory ALJ and former Assistant Attorney General in Washington state.
They will work alongside the existing adjudicators — Chief ALJ Erin M. Wirth and Judges Linda S. Crovella and Alex M. Chintella — and help manage the record number of pending proceedings.
Source - Federal Maritime Commission’s official press release.
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