Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Carey, Margaret A

CHICAGOIllinois Trending up

-9.6 pts vs national average

48.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge48.2%

CHICAGO54.8%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

299

Fully favorable

24.7%

Partially favorable

23.4%

Denials

155

51.8%

Total dispositions

348

Dismissals

14.1%

Awards

144

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 24.7%Partially fav. 23.4%Denied 51.8%

Approval rate history

FY2015

34.3%99 dec

FY2016

39.9%348 dec

FY2017

34.2%316 dec

FY2018

37.7%393 dec

FY2019

40.3%419 dec

FY2020

54.2%310 dec

FY2021

44.5%290 dec

FY2022

45.1%206 dec

FY2023

43.1%197 dec

FY2024

50.5%277 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at CHICAGO (9)

Logan, Michael
278 dec68.7%
Saame, Brian
75 dec65.3%
Suffi, Carla
313 dec64.2%
Skidmore, David
267 dec61.0%
Poulose, Mary Ann
216 dec58.8%
Laskaris, Bill
319 dec52.4%
Bridges, Kathryn
234 dec50.4%
Garelick, Jordan
284 dec39.4%
Mellman, Nathan
280 dec39.3%

Judges in Illinois with the most decisions

Smith, Gregory
ORLAND PARK429 dec
Studzinski, Edward
OAK BROOK404 dec
Bruce, David R
ORLAND PARK399 dec
Gruenburg, Dawn
OAK PARK397 dec
LaRoche, Roy
OAK PARK373 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.