Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Knowdell, Christopher

SACRAMENTOCalifornia Stable

+2.6 pts vs national average

60.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge60.3%

SACRAMENTO68.3%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

348

Fully favorable

152

43.7%

Partially favorable

16.7%

Denials

138

39.7%

Total dispositions

410

Dismissals

15.1%

Awards

210

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 43.7%Partially fav. 16.7%Denied 39.7%

Approval rate history

FY2015

0.0%0 dec

FY2016

50.9%340 dec

FY2017

59.0%415 dec

FY2018

48.6%420 dec

FY2019

56.7%457 dec

FY2020

63.3%384 dec

FY2021

61.5%348 dec

FY2022

63.5%301 dec

FY2023

68.0%234 dec

FY2024

61.2%363 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at SACRAMENTO (7)

Irias, Sigrid
171 dec81.9%
Villere, Plauche F.
420 dec80.0%
Blume, David
378 dec72.0%
Skarda, Trevor
121 dec69.4%
Martin, Lisa B.
143 dec69.2%
Havens, Laura Speck
7 dec57.1%
Gillis, Sara
361 dec56.5%

Judges in California with the most decisions

Lacy, David
PASADENA396 dec
Magana, Ghermann
PASADENA382 dec
Radensky, Michael
ORANGE371 dec
Chan, Eva
STOCKTON357 dec
Nguyen, James
NORWALK354 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.