Sacramento Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
California · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
69.4%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
256 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,541
awaiting hearing
ALJs
9
active judges
Sacramento 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plauche F Villere JR. | 81.1% | 18.9% | 75.7% | 74 | 87 |
| Plauche F. Villere | 80% | 20% | 73.1% | 420 | 487 |
| Sigrid Irias | 78.1% | 21.9% | 65.7% | 105 | 125 |
| David Blume | 71.1% | 28.9% | 63.2% | 456 | 540 |
| Lisa B. Martin | 69% | 31% | 55% | 200 | 242 |
| Trevor Skarda | 66.7% | 33.3% | 49.6% | 117 | 143 |
| Christopher Knowdell | 59.6% | 40.4% | 43.3% | 418 | 497 |
| Laura Speck Havens | 57.1% | 42.9% | 57.1% | 7 | 8 |
| Sara Gillis | 55.5% | 44.5% | 40.6% | 456 | 548 |
Former Judges at Sacramento
These judges have no recorded decisions at Sacramento 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odell Grooms | November 2024 | 18.2% | 11 |
| Carol A Eckersen | September 2024 | 64% | 278 |
| William Spalo | December 2023 | 60.3% | 73 |
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 Sacramento Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Sacramento hearing office in California as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 09, 9 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 69.4%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. While above the national benchmark, this figure aggregates decisions across all judges and encompasses both fully and partially favorable outcomes. Judge approval rates at this office range from 55.5% to 81.1%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
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 256 days. There are currently 2,541 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 58.1%. 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 Sacramento Hearing Office Data
Sacramento 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 8 months and 256 days average processing time, claimants at Sacramento can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Sacramento have collectively issued 2,253 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 250 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 7 to 456 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Sacramento Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Sacramento?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 55.5% to 81.1%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 58.1%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Sacramento?
What is the average case processing time at Sacramento?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
How often do judges at Sacramento issue fully favorable decisions?
Is Sacramento's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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