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Norwalk Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

California · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

65%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

266 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

848

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Norwalk 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
Tom Duann 73.8% 26.2% 64.2% 385 448
James Nguyen 64.4% 35.6% 60.9% 432 518
James Carberry 60.2% 39.8% 53.4% 264 308
Paul Coulter 57.6% 42.4% 47.2% 125 147

Former Judges at Norwalk

This judge has no recorded decisions at Norwalk 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
Cynthia A Minter October 2024 75.2% 129

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 Norwalk Social Security Hearing Office

Norwalk is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in California. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 4 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 65%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. Several factors may contribute to this rate, including the types of cases filed in this region and the level of legal representation at hearings. Judge approval rates at this office range from 57.6% to 73.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

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 266 days. There are currently 848 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 212 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 56.4%. 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 Norwalk Hearing Office Data

Norwalk shows a moderate degree of variation across its bench, which is common among offices of this size. While all judges apply the same federal disability standards, differences in how they weigh medical evidence, vocational factors, and hearing testimony may contribute to varying outcomes.

With an average wait time of 9 months and 266 days average processing time, claimants at Norwalk can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Norwalk have collectively issued 1,206 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 302 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 125 to 432 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Norwalk Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Norwalk?
The average ALJ approval rate at Norwalk is 65% 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 57.6% to 73.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 56.4%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Norwalk?
The Norwalk office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 125 to 432 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Norwalk?
The current average wait time at Norwalk is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 266 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.
What is the fully favorable rate at Norwalk?
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 Norwalk, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 56.4%.
How does Norwalk compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 17 hearing offices in California, Norwalk ranks 5 of 17 with an approval rate of 65%. In terms of wait time, Norwalk ranks 7 of 17 (9 months). Visit the California overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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