Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Mellman, Nathan

CHICAGOIllinois Trending up

-18.4 pts vs national average

39.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge39.3%

CHICAGO54.8%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

280

Fully favorable

28.6%

Partially favorable

10.7%

Denials

170

60.7%

Total dispositions

353

Dismissals

20.7%

Awards

110

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 28.6%Partially fav. 10.7%Denied 60.7%

Approval rate history

FY2016

29.9%187 dec

FY2017

32.8%284 dec

FY2018

41.2%408 dec

FY2019

41.6%466 dec

FY2020

39.1%391 dec

FY2021

38.4%289 dec

FY2022

36.5%290 dec

FY2023

43.3%245 dec

FY2024

50.4%375 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%
Garelick, Jordan
284 dec39.4%

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.