Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 85%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs evidence differently. This wide variation makes it essential that your file is prepared to meet a high standard of proof.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laurel J. Greene | 85% | 1,269 | |
| 2 | John D. McNamee-Alemany | 83% | 1,939 | |
| 3 | Scott T. Miller | 80% | 1,702 | |
| 4 | F. T. Eckert Jr. | 75% | 336 | |
| 5 | Norman R. Zamboni | 73% | 2,716 | |
| 6 | Kathleen Scully-Hayes | 69% | 2,020 | |
| 7 | Christopher Messina | 68% | 2,377 | |
| 8 | Richard P. Gartner | 65% | 1,935 | |
| 9 | James P. Alderisio | 64% | 4,467 | |
| 10 | Rita E. Foley | 62% | 2,534 | |
| 11 | Donald G. Smith | 57% | 4,773 | |
| 12 | Anne V. Sprague | 54% | 3,359 | |
| 13 | Peter Kafkas | 51% | 3,395 | |
| 14 | Joseph F. Dent | 42% | 1,829 | |
| 15 | Elving L. Torres | 40% | 2,451 | |
| 16 | Kurt G. Ehrman | 37% | 3,224 | |
| 17 | Arline Colon | 35% | 1,036 |
How long you'll wait
At St. Petersburg, 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.
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
With an 8-month wait, you have a runway to ensure your file is ready for the ALJ. Gather all medical records, including updated treatment notes and a detailed list of medication side effects, well before your hearing date. You will likely spend time in the hearing room where a vocational expert will testify about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations. You have the right to question this expert, which is often the most important part of the proceeding. Since the panel of 17 judges has a wide spread in approval rates, your file must be strong enough to stand on its own regardless of who is assigned to your case.
When a panel's approval rates span 50 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. While you wait for your hearing date, you can pressure-test your medical evidence against the vocational expert's likely testimony to ensure your record provides clear answers.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at St. Petersburg, 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.
Frequently asked questions
The current average wait for a hearing at this office is 8 months. This is slightly faster than the national average of 8.2 months. An attorney can help you navigate this wait time effectively.
Judges are assigned randomly to cases at this office. Because the 17 judges on the panel have varying approval rates, you should prepare your case to be robust enough for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for this uncertainty.
You generally cannot request a specific judge. If you have concerns about a potential conflict of interest, discuss them with your attorney immediately. An attorney can help you evaluate your options if a conflict arises.
While not required, representation is highly recommended. You are statistically more likely to be allowed benefits when you have an attorney who knows how to cross-examine vocational experts and organize medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.