Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office vary across the panel, with approval rates spanning from 28% to 81%. Because cases are assigned randomly, the judge you draw matters as much as the office's high average approval rate. Each judge weighs medical evidence differently, so your file must be robust enough to succeed regardless of who presides.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. Burgess Stalley | 81% | 2,887 | |
| 2 | Thomas M. Muth | 77% | 266 | |
| 3 | Ben E. Sheely | 77% | 3,231 | |
| 4 | Roger A. Nelson | 75% | 3,180 | |
| 5 | Kim McClain-Leazure | 75% | 293 | |
| 6 | Warren L. Hammond Jr. | 72% | 1,780 | |
| 7 | Alan E. Michel | 72% | 1,374 | |
| 8 | Thomas M. Muth II | 69% | 2,793 | |
| 9 | David R. Murchison | 68% | 3,130 | |
| 10 | Laura L. Robinson | 65% | 3,950 | |
| 11 | Marni R. McCaghren | 63% | 3,297 | |
| 12 | Daniel S. Campbell | 63% | 2,901 | |
| 13 | Tracy S. Guice | 62% | 3,166 | |
| 14 | James F. Barter | 56% | 2,760 | |
| 15 | Paul Reams | 54% | 1,084 | |
| 16 | Kevin Boucher | 53% | 3,134 | |
| 17 | Robert Waller | 53% | 2,686 | |
| 18 | L. D. Pischek | 28% | 1,135 |
How long you'll wait
At Mobile, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 months— versus a national average of 8.2 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Going to your hearing
Your hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ will review your claim. Because the wait time in Mobile has risen to 8 months, you have a window to strengthen your file with updated medical records and a detailed log of your daily limitations. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline. During the hearing, a vocational expert will likely testify about available jobs that fit your physical or mental restrictions. You have the right to question this expert, which is often a critical part of the process. A final decision will arrive by mail after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's approval rates span over 50 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. While Mobile's 75% approval rate is high, cases that fail often do so because they did not anticipate the vocational expert's testimony or failed to link specific symptoms to functional limitations. A professional who understands the Mobile panel can pressure-test your evidence before you walk into the hearing room.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Mobile, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. SSA's published service areas route these offices' appeals here. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.
Frequently asked questions
The current average wait for a hearing at this office is 8 months. While this is slightly faster than the national average of 8.2 months, wait times have been trending upward recently. An attorney can help you manage your expectations during this wait.
Hearings are assigned randomly to judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Because there is a wide spread in approval rates among these judges, an attorney can help you understand the specific tendencies of the panel. An attorney can help you prepare for the possibility of different judge assignments.
You generally cannot choose your judge. However, if you believe a judge has a conflict of interest, an attorney can help you file a formal objection to request a reassignment.
While not required, representation is highly recommended. Given the wide variation in judge approval rates at this office, an attorney's ability to prepare your medical evidence and cross-examine the vocational expert is often the deciding factor in a successful claim. An attorney can help you navigate these complexities.
