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Las Vegas Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Nevada · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

38.9%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

276 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,929

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Las Vegas ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Peter Baum 78.9% 21.1% 78.9% 19 19
Christopher R Daniels 68.6% 31.4% 59.5% 185 221
David K Gatto 60.8% 39.2% 55.8% 385 473
Neil Morholt 51.6% 48.4% 43.5% 370 469
Cynthia R Hoover 48% 52% 30% 50 71
Michael Finnie N/A 100% N/A 3 3

Former Judges at Las Vegas

These judges have no recorded decisions at Las Vegas in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.

Judge Last Decisions Reported Approval Rate Total Decisions
Thomas M Ray May 2025 87.2% 257
Deanna L Sokolski April 2025 67.1% 143
Arthur Zeidman February 2025 44% 339
Donald R Colpitts December 2023 77.8% 9

Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.

About the Las Vegas Social Security Hearing Office

Las Vegas is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Nevada. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 6 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 38.9%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. A lower aggregate rate does not necessarily indicate stricter standards — it may reflect differences in case demographics, representation quality, or the types of conditions presented at hearings. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 78.9%, a 79-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 276 days. There are currently 1,929 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 322 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 44.6%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.

How to Interpret Las Vegas Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Las Vegas, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.

With an average wait time of 9 months and 276 days average processing time, claimants at Las Vegas can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Las Vegas have collectively issued 1,012 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 169 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 3 to 385 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Las Vegas Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Las Vegas?
The average ALJ approval rate at Las Vegas is 38.9% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 78.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 44.6%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Las Vegas?
The Las Vegas office has 6 administrative law judges. Of these, 4 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 3 to 385 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Las Vegas?
The current average wait time at Las Vegas is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 276 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
How often do judges at Las Vegas issue fully favorable decisions?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At Las Vegas, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 44.6%.
Is Las Vegas's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 2 hearing offices in Nevada, Las Vegas has the lowest approval rate at 38.9%. In terms of wait time, Las Vegas ranks 2 of 2 (9 months). Visit the Nevada overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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