Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Garelick, Jordan

CHICAGOIllinois Stable

-18.3 pts vs national average

39.4%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge39.4%

CHICAGO54.8%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

284

Fully favorable

34.5%

Partially favorable

4.9%

Denials

172

60.6%

Total dispositions

341

Dismissals

16.7%

Awards

112

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 34.5%Partially fav. 4.9%Denied 60.6%

Approval rate history

FY2015

26.4%140 dec

FY2016

45.7%232 dec

FY2017

50.4%282 dec

FY2018

52.6%310 dec

FY2019

50.8%441 dec

FY2020

45.0%364 dec

FY2021

43.5%271 dec

FY2022

44.1%102 dec

FY2023

40.4%47 dec

FY2024

40.3%273 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%
Carey, Margaret A
299 dec48.2%
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.