Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Werner, Michael

KANSAS CITYMissouri Trending up

-5.5 pts vs national average

52.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge52.2%

KANSAS CITY52.3%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

316

Fully favorable

104

32.9%

Partially favorable

19.3%

Denials

151

47.8%

Total dispositions

372

Dismissals

15.1%

Awards

165

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 32.9%Partially fav. 19.3%Denied 47.8%

Approval rate history

FY2018

43.3%157 dec

FY2019

32.5%477 dec

FY2020

32.1%386 dec

FY2021

33.6%348 dec

FY2022

35.1%265 dec

FY2023

36.5%296 dec

FY2024

42.4%356 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at KANSAS CITY (12)

Naggi, Mark
324 dec90.1%
Erickson, Diana
226 dec84.1%
Lehr, Michael
389 dec75.8%
Jung, P H
267 dec58.8%
Ambuehl, Christel
132 dec53.8%
Deans, Joan H
324 dec51.9%
Comisky, Michael
292 dec45.2%
Mein, Christina Young
355 dec43.4%
Barnes-Williams, Janice
240 dec41.7%
Neal, Toni
18 dec38.9%
Kelly, Robert
329 dec25.2%
Cooke, Christine
21 dec19.0%

Judges in Missouri with the most decisions

Hellums, Walter
SPRINGFIELD MO421 dec
Price, John
ST LOUIS398 dec
Luetkenhaus, Robert
ST LOUIS357 dec
Ruth, Vicky
COLUMBIA MO353 dec
Davis, Alaina
ST LOUIS351 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.