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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
Gaffney, John
PHOENIX DOWNTOWN Trending up
+17.7 pts vs national average
75.4%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge75.4%
PHOENIX DOWNTOWN60.1%
National avg57.8%
Total decisions
350
Fully favorable
251
71.7%
Partially favorable
13
3.7%
Denials
86
24.6%
Total dispositions
413
Dismissals
63
15.3%
Awards
264
3-year trend
Rising
FY2025 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Denied
Fully fav. 71.7%Partially fav. 3.7%Denied 24.6%
Approval rate history
FY2015
43.6%55 dec
FY2015
52.0%50 dec
FY2016
57.1%21 dec
FY2016
53.3%398 dec
FY2017
45.0%407 dec
FY2018
48.5%472 dec
FY2019
50.9%499 dec
FY2020
58.6%445 dec
FY2021
55.7%415 dec
FY2022
56.4%312 dec
FY2023
70.2%295 dec
FY2024
74.7%320 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at PHOENIX DOWNTOWN (5)
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.