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Richmond Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Virginia · SSA Region 03

Approval Rate

44.8%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

262 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,691

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Richmond 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
Anthony J Johnson 58.7% 41.3% 46% 276 325
Johnson JR. 57.1% 42.9% 42.9% 42 48
Mark Baker 55.5% 44.5% 47.3% 366 464
Eric Eklund 54.7% 45.3% 31.4% 369 447
Nicolas R. Foster 46.2% 53.8% 36.7% 433 546
Suzette Knight 16.2% 83.8% 11% 437 543

Former Judges at Richmond

These judges have no recorded decisions at Richmond 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
Maria Nunez March 2024 75% 4
L. R Baileysmith January 2024 25% 4

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 Richmond Social Security Hearing Office

Claimants in the Richmond service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Virginia. The office is assigned to SSA Region 03 and has 6 active ALJs.

The office's average approval rate is 44.8%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. This rate is shaped by the interplay of case characteristics, local representation patterns, and individual judge decision tendencies. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 16.2% to 58.7%, a 43-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 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 262 days. There are currently 1,691 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 282 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 35.9%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.

How to Interpret Richmond Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Richmond, 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 8 months and 262 days average processing time, claimants at Richmond can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Richmond have collectively issued 1,923 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 321 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 42 to 437 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Richmond Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Richmond?
The average ALJ approval rate at Richmond is 44.8% 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 16.2% to 58.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 35.9%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Richmond?
The Richmond office has 6 administrative law judges. Of these, 5 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 42 to 437 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Richmond?
The current average wait time at Richmond is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 262 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 months. Note that wait times are point-in-time estimates from SSA reporting and may vary from month to month based on case volume and staffing changes.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 8 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. These figures rely on SSA's publicly released disposition records, which are processed and incorporated into our database as each reporting cycle concludes.
What is the fully favorable rate at Richmond?
A fully favorable outcome awards benefits from the date the claimant first alleged disability. A partially favorable outcome also results in an award but may recognize a later onset date, reducing retroactive benefits. In the approval rate shown here, both types of favorable decisions are included. At Richmond, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 35.9%.
How does Richmond compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 5 hearing offices in Virginia, Richmond ranks 3 of 5 with an approval rate of 44.8%. In terms of wait time, Richmond ranks 1 of 5 (8 months). Visit the Virginia overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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