Back to search
Updated July 2026 · SSA Public
Administrative Law Judge
71.8%lifetime approval
vs baselines
This judge71.8%
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 (GRAND RAPIDS).
Total decisions
71
Fully favorable
32
45.1%
Partially favorable
19
26.8%
Denials
20
28.2%
Total dispositions
87
Dismissals
16
18.4%
Awards
51
3-year trend
Stable
FY2026 decision breakdown
Fully fav.
Fully fav. 45.1%Partially fav. 26.8%Denied 28.2%
Approval rate history
FY2011
55.4%361 dec
FY2012
50.5%448 dec
FY2013
47.6%481 dec
FY2014
46.0%437 dec
FY2015
49.1%462 dec
FY2016
53.8%446 dec
FY2017
54.5%424 dec
FY2018
53.3%456 dec
FY2019
55.6%543 dec
FY2020
62.0%466 dec
FY2021
55.4%388 dec
FY2022
66.7%402 dec
FY2023
67.4%344 dec
FY2024
70.8%295 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%
- Alden, Randolph W214 dec66.4%
- Labrum, Robert J215 dec66.0%
- Day, Kelley214 dec65.0%
- Kramzyk, Henry114 dec64.9%
- 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.