Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Costa, Leonard

NEWARKNew Jersey Trending up

+1.7 pts vs national average

59.4%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge59.4%

NEWARK56.3%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

293

Fully favorable

153

52.2%

Partially favorable

7.2%

Denials

119

40.6%

Total dispositions

353

Dismissals

17.0%

Awards

174

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 52.2%Partially fav. 7.2%Denied 40.6%

Approval rate history

FY2017

52.1%286 dec

FY2018

43.3%457 dec

FY2019

52.0%467 dec

FY2020

52.8%337 dec

FY2021

53.3%274 dec

FY2022

50.5%295 dec

FY2023

53.2%265 dec

FY2024

55.8%339 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at NEWARK (9)

Merrill, Theresa
245 dec78.0%
Shillin, Beth
180 dec63.3%
West, Richard
269 dec62.1%
Campbell, John
90 dec60.0%
Shelton, Karen
282 dec59.9%
Allard, Sharon
277 dec57.8%
Damille, Ricardy
346 dec55.5%
Ayers, Kenneth
305 dec42.6%
Lee, Peter
289 dec24.2%

Judges in New Jersey with the most decisions

Patterson, Karen
SOUTH JERSEY432 dec
Kenneally, Kevin
JERSEY CITY425 dec
Gonzalez, Robert
JERSEY CITY389 dec
Varillo, Kimberly
SOUTH JERSEY388 dec
Moore, Trina
JERSEY CITY368 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

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