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Updated July 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
64.9%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge64.9%
SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE59.5%
National avg57.7%
Figures below are for SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE, this judge’s busiest office. They also have records at 1 other office (NHC CHICAGO).
Total decisions
114
Fully favorable
33
28.9%
Partially favorable
41
36.0%
Denials
40
35.1%
Total dispositions
148
Dismissals
34
23.0%
Awards
74
3-year trend
Rising
FY2026 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 28.9%Partially fav. 36.0%Denied 35.1%
Approval rate history
FY2012
19.6%397 dec
FY2013
29.1%547 dec
FY2014
35.4%447 dec
FY2015
33.7%430 dec
FY2016
26.7%292 dec
FY2017
33.7%276 dec
FY2018
24.9%329 dec
FY2019
31.0%406 dec
FY2020
29.7%397 dec
FY2021
25.1%407 dec
FY2022
27.9%258 dec
FY2023
33.1%163 dec
FY2024
35.9%192 dec
Above national Below national National avg
Other ALJs at SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE (24)
- Weathers, Ena220 dec81.8%
- Smiley, Jennifer255 dec78.8%
- Rauenzahn, MaryKay127 dec78.7%
- Hockensmith, Mark201 dec73.1%
- Ohanesian, Nicholas71 dec71.8%
- Alden, Randolph W214 dec66.4%
- Labrum, Robert J215 dec66.0%
- Day, Kelley214 dec65.0%
- Walter, Nicholas208 dec61.1%
- Waller, Robert61 dec60.7%
- Valkavich, Helen270 dec60.0%
- Cabotaje, Michael76 dec59.2%
- DiMaggio Wallis, Sandra R240 dec59.2%
- Carr, Michael46 dec58.7%
- Lucas, Brian353 dec58.1%
- Ferguson, Jeffrey A56 dec57.1%
- Nagle, Kim Soo221 dec56.1%
- Eiler, Kathleen H200 dec54.0%
- Fuller, Roxanne90 dec53.3%
- Benton, Amy33 dec51.5%
- Pierce, Katie H85 dec48.2%
- Dillon, Christopher81 dec44.4%
- Beatty, Gregory M.74 dec35.1%
- Wexler, April M40 dec25.0%
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.