Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Gina Pesaresi is calculated from 2,068 lifetime decisions made between 2016 and 2024. Within the Jersey City hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 44% to 79%. These figures offer a view of historical patterns rather than a guarantee of your future results, as aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Pesaresi. The most recent period with decisions on record is April 26, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Pesaresi'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Judge Gina Pesaresi has remained relatively consistent, with a peak in 2023 at 74%. Her record shows a steady pattern of adjudication, with the most recent data from 2024 showing a 64% approval rate. This trend suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim, though yearly fluctuations often occur due to changes in case complexity or the specific medical evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pesaresi'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 Jersey City hearing office
The Jersey City hearing office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 11 judges to process disability applications. You can expect a formal hearing process where the judge evaluates your medical documentation against 20 CFR Part 404 standards. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 65%. You can visit the Jersey City Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Jersey City hearing office, there are 11 judges on record since 2016, with 10 currently reporting in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, spanning from 44% to 79%. Your preparation remains the same 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
Judge Gina Pesaresi holds a lifetime approval rate of 61%, which sits within the broader office-wide range of 44% to 79%. While she is one of 11 judges on record at this office, her specific rate reflects her individual history of 2,068 decisions. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
Yes, the data shows yearly variance, with approval rates ranging from a low of 57% in 2017 and 2020 to a high of 74% in 2023. These shifts are common and may reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence provided. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to ensure workload balance across the hearing office. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI 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 daily limitations and work history as they relate to Social Security disability requirements. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.