Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Ma, Catherine

CLEVELANDOhio Trending up

-49.2 pts vs national average

8.5%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge8.5%

CLEVELAND51.1%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

305

Fully favorable

5.2%

Partially favorable

3.3%

Denials

279

91.5%

Total dispositions

384

Dismissals

20.6%

Awards

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Denied

Fully fav. 5.2%Partially fav. 3.3%Denied 91.5%

Approval rate history

FY2016

26.1%238 dec

FY2017

25.8%268 dec

FY2018

19.1%304 dec

FY2019

19.4%408 dec

FY2020

13.8%269 dec

FY2021

18.4%207 dec

FY2022

11.2%179 dec

FY2023

14.1%170 dec

FY2024

17.8%241 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at CLEVELAND (10)

Aliberti, Louis
329 dec78.1%
Hixson, Traci M
356 dec69.7%
Rose, Joseph
232 dec63.8%
Budney, Amy
306 dec61.1%
Adamo, Genevieve
351 dec58.7%
Leland, William
365 dec56.4%
Westley, Eric
358 dec55.0%
Kearney, Keith
389 dec55.0%
Loucas, Penny
358 dec33.5%
Hajjar, Joseph
360 dec22.5%

Judges in Ohio with the most decisions

Shinn, Charles
AKRON OH416 dec
Balter, Michael
AKRON OH408 dec
Schmitz, Michael F.
AKRON OH402 dec
Ashford, Earl
TOLEDO OH397 dec
Jacques, Meredith
TOLEDO OH395 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.