Official SSA Data
ALJ Approval Rates & Judge Statistics
Browse 1,000 ALJs with 50+ decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed approval rates and performance data.
Compare Judges Side-by-Side
Select 2-4 judges to compare approval rates, caseloads, and statistics.
Understanding Judge Statistics
Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are appointed by the Social Security Administration to preside over disability hearings. This database includes 1,000 ALJs who decided 50 or more cases in the 12 months ending July 2026, drawn from 173 hearing offices across 50 states and territories.
Approval rates across the ALJ corps range from 8.6% to 98.2%, with a national average of 57.6%. This wide range reflects the inherent variation in case mix, claimant populations, representation quality, and individual decision-making patterns. Understanding this context is important when evaluating any single judge's statistics.
Use the search bar above to find a specific judge by name or office, or browse the table below to compare statistics. The compare tool lets you view 2-4 judges side by side, and individual judge pages provide detailed decision breakdowns and historical trend data.
National Average
57.6%
12 months ending July 2026 approval rate
Avg Decisions
355
per judge this FY
Total Judges
1,000
with 50+ decisions
| Judge | Office | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Abbondondelo | Shreveport | 84.5% | 15.5% | 412 |
| Devona Able | Alexandria | 43.2% | 56.8% | 389 |
| Genevieve Adamo | Cleveland | 56.8% | 43.2% | 433 |
| Andrea Addison | Jersey City | 70.8% | 29.2% | 404 |
| Janet Akers | Orland Park | 24.5% | 75.5% | 375 |
| George M. Akins | Montgomery | 73% | 27% | 137 |
| Janet Alaga Gadigian | Oak Park | 76.1% | 23.9% | 205 |
| Randolph Alden | Special Review Cadre | 68% | 32% | 253 |
| James P. Alderisio | St Petersburg FL Oho | 64% | 36% | 469 |
| Dante M. Alegre | Phoenix Downtown | 33.8% | 66.2% | 314 |
| Kevin Alexander | Little Rock | 23.9% | 76.1% | 109 |
| Ryan Alger | Hartford | 57.6% | 42.4% | 283 |
| Louis Aliberti | Akron OH | 77.5% | 22.5% | 409 |
| E. Alis | Oakland | 67.2% | 32.8% | 64 |
| Enrico Alis | Oakland | 66.4% | 33.6% | 321 |
| Sharon Allard | Newark | 54.9% | 45.1% | 324 |
| Chandreka Allen | St Louis | 50.6% | 49.4% | 360 |
| Matthew Allen | San Antonio | 50.6% | 49.4% | 510 |
| Michelle Allen | Long Island | 71.8% | 28.2% | 216 |
| Noell F. Allen | Indianapolis | 71% | 29% | 214 |
| Christopher Ambrose | Lansing | 83.4% | 16.6% | 320 |
| Christel Ambuehl | Fargo | 54.1% | 45.9% | 196 |
| Monica J Anderson | New Orleans | 46.1% | 53.9% | 425 |
| Renee S Andrews Turner | Nashville | 70.2% | 29.8% | 440 |
| John Antonowicz | Shreveport | 58.7% | 41.3% | 491 |
| Stacy Appleton | Columbus | 39.6% | 60.4% | 508 |
| Clara H Aranda | Miami Oho | 63.3% | 36.7% | 430 |
| Ted Armbruster | Phoenix North | 74% | 26% | 319 |
| Josephine Arno | Moreno Valley | 66.4% | 33.6% | 393 |
| Earl Ashford | Toledo OH | 48% | 52% | 469 |
| Brent T. Asseff | Charlotte | 88.8% | 11.2% | 509 |
| F. H. Ayer | Washington | 56.7% | 43.3% | 342 |
| Kenneth Ayers | Newark | 42.9% | 57.1% | 378 |
| Corey Ayling | Minneapolis | 55.3% | 44.7% | 443 |
| Lauren Logan Benedict | Chattanooga | 63.9% | 36.1% | 399 |
| Asad Ba Yunus | Albany | 45% | 55% | 378 |
| Laura Bach | Houston West | 67.4% | 32.6% | 448 |
| Bryce Baird | Buffalo | 59.6% | 40.4% | 136 |
| Jonathan P. Baird | Lawrence MA | 73.3% | 26.7% | 300 |
| Mark Baker | Richmond | 55.5% | 44.5% | 366 |
| Gary Ball | Baltimore | 64.1% | 35.9% | 287 |
| Nelisbeth Ball | Baltimore | 59.5% | 40.5% | 220 |
| Robert Ballieu | Tampa Oho | 69.9% | 30.1% | 239 |
| Michael Balter | Akron OH | 61.6% | 38.4% | 471 |
| Daniel Balutis | Wilkes Barre | 29.2% | 70.8% | 319 |
| Angela Banks | Bronx | 45.7% | 54.3% | 376 |
| Robin Barber | Kingsport | 42.8% | 57.2% | 346 |
| Christian Bareford | Pittsburgh | 39.1% | 60.9% | 384 |
| Paul Barker | Nhc Baltimore | 48% | 52% | 375 |
| H.j. Barkley III | Tupelo | 61.4% | 38.6% | 57 |
Showing 1-50 of 1,000 judges
ALJ Approval Rate & Statistics FAQ
How should I interpret judge approval rates?
There is no single "good" approval rate. Outcomes depend heavily on case facts, medical evidence, and representation quality. The national average approval rate is 57.6% for the 12 months ending July 2026. Individual ALJ rates in our database range from 8.6% to 98.2%. Approval rates reflect both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions. A higher rate does not necessarily mean a judge applies different standards; it can reflect differences in the types of cases heard, representation quality, and case preparation.
What is the average caseload for a Social Security judge?
The median ALJ in our database decided 385 cases in the 12 months ending July 2026. Individual caseloads range from 50 to 704 decisions. This table includes only judges with 50 or more decisions, which filters out judges who were newly appointed, on extended leave, or transferred mid-year. Caseload differences can reflect hearing schedules, case complexity, and administrative duties.
How are judges assigned to disability cases?
No. ALJ assignments are made on a rotational basis within each hearing office. Claimants and their representatives cannot select a specific judge. Cases are assigned based on the judge's calendar and availability, not by request. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding decision patterns across the bench at your local office can help with case preparation.
What is the difference between decisions and dispositions?
A "decision" is a ruling on the merits of a disability claim, either favorable or unfavorable. A "disposition" is a broader category that includes decisions plus other case resolutions such as dismissals (where a case is closed without a merits ruling, often due to procedural issues). Approval rates on this site are calculated using decisions only, which provides a clearer picture of how judges rule when they evaluate a case on its merits. See our methodology page for more details.
What are the current ALJ approval rates for the 12 months ending July 2026?
The national average ALJ approval rate for the 12 months ending July 2026 is 57.6%. Individual judge rates range from 8.6% to 98.2%. This average includes both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions across 173 hearing offices nationwide. Rates vary significantly by state, office, and individual judge.
How do ALJ approval rates compare by state?
Approval rates vary significantly across states. Puerto Rico has the highest average at 70%, while Virginia has the lowest at 46.9%. These differences reflect regional case mix, representation rates, and office-level factors. Browse the full state breakdown to compare approval rates, wait times, and judge counts for your area.
Where can I find the latest ALJ disposition data?
This site presents ALJ disposition data processed from the SSA's public use files, updated for the 12 months ending July 2026. We transform the raw data into searchable statistics with approval rates, denial rates, and decision counts for each judge and office. See our methodology page for details on how the data is sourced, processed, and calculated.