Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 5 judges at this office demonstrates a wide spread in allowance rates, with outcomes varying significantly depending on which judge is assigned to your case. Because individual judges weigh evidence differently, your file must be robust enough to withstand rigorous scrutiny regardless of who presides. Judge assignment is random and these statistics are not a guarantee of how your specific hearing will be decided.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John A. Beall | 76% | 1,669 | |
| 2 | Earl W. Shaffer | 69% | 3,691 | |
| 3 | Ann F. MacMurray | 54% | 5,214 | |
| 4 | Debra L. Boudreau | 51% | 25,938 | |
| 5 | Kurt D. Schuman | 46% | 18,685 | |
| 6 | Kathryn D. Burgchardt | 46% | 24,189 | |
| 7 | Bryan Henry | 42% | 24,538 | |
| 8 | Matthew C. Kawalek | 39% | 29,380 | |
| 9 | William Musseman | 29% | 18,794 | |
| 10 | Diane S. Davis | 23% | 21,948 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Colorado Springs, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 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
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 9-month wait before your hearing, you have a critical window to ensure your medical file is complete. You must submit all updated medical records, including recent test results and notes from specialists, well before the hearing date. During your hearing, an Administrative Law Judge will preside, and a Vocational Expert will often testify regarding your ability to perform work. You should be prepared to discuss your daily limitations, medication side effects, and how your condition prevents you from maintaining full-time employment. Because the judge will rely on the evidence you provide, having a clear, documented history of your impairment is essential. A decision is typically mailed to you several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When an office has a wide 46-point spread in judge allowance rates, your preparation must account for the most stringent standards on the panel. By pressure-testing your case before you walk into the hearing room, you can avoid common pitfalls that lead to unfavorable decisions.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Colorado Springs, 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.