Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While David Suna has an approval rate of 58% since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 62%. This latest figure sits 3 percentage points below the Jersey City office average of 65% for the same period. With 2,873 total decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past trends.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Suna'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, your approval rate for David Suna has varied. After an initial period of fluctuation, the rate increased in recent years, reaching 65% in 2024 and 64% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate of 62% remains consistent with this recent performance. These shifts often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Suna'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 you across the region. With 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 65%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jersey City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jersey City office, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 44% to 79% on their since-2016 records.
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
David Suna has an approval rate of 58% since 2016. Across the bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Jersey City, approval rates range from 44% to 79%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. While the rate on record since 2016 is 58%, recent years have seen higher approval rates, such as 65% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and medical limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
