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Spokane Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Washington · SSA Region 10

Approval Rate

71.1%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

291 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,027

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Spokane 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
Donna Walker 84.9% 15.1% 80.9% 345 405
Stewart Stallings 71.5% 28.5% 62.6% 337 401
Lori L Freund 68.7% 31.3% 65.1% 307 368
Laura Chess 66.7% 33.3% 40.3% 72 75
Wynne O'brien Persons 60% 40% 44.3% 70 86
Jesse Shumway 50.3% 49.7% 43.2% 199 249

Former Judges at Spokane

These judges have no recorded decisions at Spokane 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
Marie Palachuk March 2025 47.6% 319
Caroline Siderius March 2025 81.5% 130

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 Spokane Social Security Hearing Office

The Spokane hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Washington. This office is in SSA Region 10 and currently has 6 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 71.1%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. This higher-than-average rate reflects the combined decision patterns of all judges at this office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 50.3% to 84.9%, a 35-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 291 days. There are currently 2,027 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 338 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 56.1%. 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 Spokane Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Spokane, 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 291 days average processing time, claimants at Spokane can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Spokane have collectively issued 1,330 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 222 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 70 to 345 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Spokane Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Spokane?
The average ALJ approval rate at Spokane is 71.1% 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 50.3% to 84.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 56.1%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Spokane?
The Spokane office has 6 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 70 to 345 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Spokane?
The current average wait time at Spokane is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 291 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
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. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
How often do judges at Spokane issue fully favorable decisions?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Spokane, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 56.1%.
Is Spokane's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Washington, Spokane has the highest approval rate at 71.1%. In terms of wait time, Spokane ranks 2 of 3 (9 months). Visit the Washington overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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