Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires comparing their performance against the broader bench. The 48% approval rate for Robert E. Gale is measured against the 40% to 86% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. These figures are derived from 230 decisions on record since 2016, providing a view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Gale. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Gale's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval trend for Robert E. Gale shows a shift from 49% in 2016 to 44% in 2017 across a total of 230 decisions on record. This pattern reflects the data captured between January 2016 and September 2017. Because the record concludes in 2017, the figures represent a specific window of activity.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gale's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Syracuse hearing office
Robert E. Gale's most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office serves claimants across New York and operates within a regional network of hearing sites. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse, with approval rates ranging from 40% to 86% on their since-2016 records. While these variations exist, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent across the bench.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Robert E. Gale has an approval rate of 48% based on 230 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 86% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for Robert E. Gale was 49% in 2016 and 44% in 2017. These figures are based on 230 total decisions on record. Understanding these trends can be part of your overall case strategy, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control the assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Robert E. Gale has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your case file.
