La. Stat. tit. 23 § 1310.6
The assistant secretary shall preside at all meetings of the workers' compensation judges and shall make all procedural rulings for the workers' compensation judges collectively, except those to be made in the course of hearings before a single workers' compensation judge, oversee the administrative affairs of the workers' compensation judges, and bear such other responsibilities and duties as may be necessary to operate the workers' compensation judge system in an efficient manner. The assistant secretary, in his discretion, may appoint a chief workers' compensation judge to perform any or all of these duties. The position of chief workers' compensation judge shall be in addition to the number of workers' compensation judges provided for in R.S. 23:1310.1. The assistant secretary may also appoint ad hoc judges, as necessary, in addition to the positions provided for in R.S. 23:1310.1.
La. R.S. § 23:1310.6