Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Messer, Kevin

SAN DIEGOCalifornia Trending up

-2.6 pts vs national average

55.1%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge55.1%

SAN DIEGO62.2%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

214

Fully favorable

43.0%

Partially favorable

12.1%

Denials

44.9%

Total dispositions

251

Dismissals

14.7%

Awards

118

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 43.0%Partially fav. 12.1%Denied 44.9%

Approval rate history

FY2018

52.9%155 dec

FY2019

44.3%479 dec

FY2020

41.1%401 dec

FY2021

46.9%424 dec

FY2022

46.7%353 dec

FY2023

52.4%252 dec

FY2024

51.8%301 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at SAN DIEGO (9)

Suing, Timothy
22 dec77.3%
Benjamin, Daniel
44 dec68.2%
Arno, Josephine
220 dec67.7%
Richardson, Michael B.
247 dec66.8%
Iafe, Robert
265 dec66.0%
Treblin, Howard K.
14 dec64.3%
Elias, Yasmin
51 dec58.8%
Tracy, Joel
286 dec55.9%
Verne, Andrew
288 dec41.3%

Judges in California with the most decisions

Villere, Plauche F.
SACRAMENTO420 dec
Lacy, David
PASADENA396 dec
Magana, Ghermann
PASADENA382 dec
Blume, David
SACRAMENTO378 dec
Radensky, Michael
ORANGE371 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.