Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office is consistent, with allowance rates for the 5 active judges clustering between 57% and 74%. Because the judges here operate within a narrow 17-point band, you can expect a predictable standard of review regardless of which judge is assigned to your case. While random assignment applies, the tight panel shape means your case quality remains the primary driver of your outcome.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cynthia A. Minter | 78% | 13,880 | |
| 2 | Margaret E. Luke | 72% | 2,464 | |
| 3 | Tom Duann | 67% | 31,018 | |
| 4 | James P. Nguyen | 58% | 24,957 | |
| 5 | Paul Coulter | 57% | 27,111 | |
| 6 | Dean Yanohira | 53% | 1,364 | |
| 7 | James Carberry | 50% | 27,883 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Norwalk, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
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
With an 8-month wait, you have a window to strengthen your file before you sit before an ALJ. Your hearing will involve a vocational expert who will testify about your ability to perform work in the national economy. You must submit all updated medical records, medication lists, and daily-activity logs well before the deadline, as last-minute evidence is often restricted. Bring your identification and be prepared to answer questions about your physical or mental limitations. Because the judges at this office are consistent, your success relies on a clear, evidence-based narrative that directly addresses the vocational expert's testimony. A final decision typically arrives by mail after the hearing concludes.
Even at an office with a 66% allowance rate, cases often fail because the claimant cannot effectively counter the vocational expert's testimony. When you have months to prepare, you can build a record that anticipates these specific questions before you enter the hearing room. Preparing your evidence early is the most effective way to address the vocational requirements of your claim.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Norwalk, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. 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.