Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 5 judges at this office shows a moderate spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 28% to 64%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs medical evidence differently. This variation makes it essential to build a robust, objective file that can stand up to scrutiny regardless of which judge presides over your session.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanya Hill-Maxion | 83% | 13,899 | |
| 2 | Judith A. Kopec | 61% | 16,576 | |
| 3 | Eva Chan | 57% | 5,895 | |
| 4 | Trevor Skarda | 56% | 27,509 | |
| 5 | Danny Pittman | 55% | 3,718 | |
| 6 | Daniel G. Heely | 53% | 15,147 | |
| 7 | Jane M. Maccione | 51% | 14,535 | |
| 8 | Young L. Bechtold | 42% | 5,162 | |
| 9 | G. Ross Wheatley | 41% | 4,809 | |
| 10 | Vincent A. Misenti | 30% | 25,678 | |
| 11 | Sheila Walters | 23% | 7,545 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Stockton, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 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 a 7-month wait time, you have a period to ensure your medical file is complete. Start by gathering all records from your recent doctor visits, as these are the most critical pieces of evidence for your hearing. You should also prepare a detailed list of your medications and their side effects, along with a log of your daily activities that illustrates exactly how your condition prevents you from working. During your hearing, a vocational expert will likely testify about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations. You will have the opportunity to question this expert, which is often a vital part of the proceeding. Evidence submission deadlines are strict, so ensure your documents are filed well before your date.
When a panel's allowance rates span 36 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it based on weak documentation. An attorney who understands the Stockton panel can help you anticipate the specific concerns of the judges here and prepare you for the vocational testimony that often determines the outcome.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Stockton, 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.