Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Merrill, Theresa

NEWARKNew Jersey Trending down

+20.2 pts vs national average

78.0%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge78.0%

NEWARK56.3%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

245

Fully favorable

182

74.3%

Partially favorable

3.7%

Denials

22.0%

Total dispositions

296

Dismissals

17.2%

Awards

191

3-year trend

Falling

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 74.3%Partially fav. 3.7%Denied 22.0%

Approval rate history

FY2014

47.6%170 dec

FY2015

68.7%380 dec

FY2016

59.5%291 dec

FY2017

73.4%312 dec

FY2018

79.7%310 dec

FY2019

84.2%393 dec

FY2020

69.7%234 dec

FY2021

67.3%263 dec

FY2022

74.2%244 dec

FY2023

75.5%216 dec

FY2024

65.0%217 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at NEWARK (9)

Shillin, Beth
180 dec63.3%
West, Richard
269 dec62.1%
Campbell, John
90 dec60.0%
Shelton, Karen
282 dec59.9%
Costa, Leonard
293 dec59.4%
Allard, Sharon
277 dec57.8%
Damille, Ricardy
346 dec55.5%
Ayers, Kenneth
305 dec42.6%
Lee, Peter
289 dec24.2%

Judges in New Jersey with the most decisions

Patterson, Karen
SOUTH JERSEY432 dec
Kenneally, Kevin
JERSEY CITY425 dec
Gonzalez, Robert
JERSEY CITY389 dec
Varillo, Kimberly
SOUTH JERSEY388 dec
Moore, Trina
JERSEY CITY368 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.