Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their peers. The 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 38% to 85% on their records since 2016. With 1,143 decisions on record, Mary Gattuso's 53% approval rate provides a baseline for understanding her past decision-making. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your upcoming hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Gattuso. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Gattuso'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
Mary Gattuso's approval rate has fluctuated across her 1,143 decisions on record since 2016. The data shows a yearly trend that moved from 55% in 2016 to 49% in 2017, followed by an increase to 56% in 2018 and a return to 50% in 2019. This pattern indicates that approval rates can vary significantly from year to year, reflecting the evolving nature of the docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gattuso'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 New Orleans hearing office
Mary Gattuso's most recent office on record is the New Orleans hearing office, which serves you if you are in the surrounding area. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, you can expect a review process that varies based on the specific judge assigned. You can find more information on the New Orleans Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Orleans
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office, and their approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 38% to 85% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Mary Gattuso's 53% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 38% to 85% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how to prepare your evidence for this specific bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated, moving from 55% in 2016 to 49% in 2017, 56% in 2018, and 50% in 2019. These shifts demonstrate that approval patterns are not static, and an attorney can help you build a case that addresses these variables.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you navigate the hearing process regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Having an attorney can help you prepare for the questions you will face and ensure your medical records are clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible.
