Approval rates
Comparing a judge's record to their peers provides context for your hearing. At the Newark office, lifetime approval rates among the 17 judges on record range from 20% to 73%. With 2,268 decisions, the data for Meryl L. Lissek offers a clear view of her historical decision-making tendencies. 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 Lissek. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lissek'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 record for Meryl L. Lissek spans from 2016 to 2022. Her approval rate remained relatively stable for several years, peaking at 75% in 2020 before adjusting to 63% and 66% in the most recent years of the data window. This trend reflects a steady pattern of evaluation across her 2,268 lifetime decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lissek'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 Newark hearing office
The Newark hearing office serves claimants throughout New Jersey. The office maintains a bench of 17 judges on record who manage a high volume of disability claims. You can see the Newark Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 20% to 73%.
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
Meryl L. Lissek has a lifetime approval rate of 69% across 2,268 decisions. This places her within the broader office range of 20% to 73%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific judge.
Her approval rate has shown some fluctuation, moving from 68% in 2016 to a high of 75% in 2020, before settling at 66% in 2022. These shifts are common and can be influenced by changes in case mix. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is ready for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you navigate these questions with confidence.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends heavily on the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you build a robust case that addresses the specific requirements of the SSA.