Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes swing significantly across the panel of judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 76%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs evidence differently. This wide variation means your file must be strong enough to succeed regardless of who hears your case.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E. M. Koldewey | 76% | 532 | |
| 2 | John C. Tobin | 71% | 1,669 | |
| 3 | Peggy M. Zirlin | 69% | 503 | |
| 4 | Marc A. Yerkey | 68% | 1,034 | |
| 5 | Robert A. Evans | 67% | 528 | |
| 6 | Edward C. Graham | 60% | 2,126 | |
| 7 | Cynthia Floyd | 56% | 3,704 | |
| 8 | Kimberly M. Gallegos | 55% | 1,011 | |
| 9 | Joseph T. Marcee | 51% | 670 | |
| 10 | Diana J. Coburn | 32% | 3,162 |
How long you'll wait
At Long Beach, 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
You have an 8-month window to prepare for your hearing, which is the most critical time to strengthen your medical record. Start by gathering updated records, a detailed medication list, and a log of your daily limitations since your last denial. Your hearing will last about 45 to 60 minutes, where an ALJ will preside and a vocational expert will likely testify about available work. Because this office has a wide spread in judge approval rates, your evidence must be comprehensive and clearly documented before the submission deadline. You will receive the judge's decision by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's approval rates span 44 points, your file has to be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney who understands the local panel can pressure-test your evidence against the specific standards these judges apply.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Long Beach, 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 average wait for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is slightly faster than the national average of 8.2 months. An attorney can help you understand how to use this time to prepare your case.
Cases are assigned randomly to the judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Because each judge weighs evidence differently, your preparation should focus on building a robust medical record that supports your claim under any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for these variables.
You generally cannot choose your judge. However, an attorney can help you identify potential issues in your file that might be viewed differently by various judges on the panel.
While not required, represented claimants are often more successful. An attorney can help you navigate the wide variation in approval rates among this office's judges.
