Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with allowance rates for the 7 judges ranging from 40% to 82%. Because the spread is so wide, your case outcome depends heavily on the specific judge assigned to your file. While assignments are random, understanding the aggregate tendencies of this panel is vital for your strategy. Each judge weighs evidence differently, so your file must be prepared to meet the highest standard of proof.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerry J. Anzalone | 84% | 19,793 | |
| 2 | Glynn F. Voisin | 77% | 10,556 | |
| 3 | John R. Burgess | 74% | 14,728 | |
| 4 | Charlotte N. White | 74% | 16,015 | |
| 5 | Louis J. Volz III | 70% | 32,414 | |
| 6 | Nancy M. Pizzo | 54% | 24,066 | |
| 7 | Donald J. Willy | 54% | 25,371 | |
| 8 | Mary Gattuso | 53% | 9,637 | |
| 9 | Tamia N. Gordon | 49% | 8,477 | |
| 10 | Monica J. Anderson | 47% | 21,526 | |
| 11 | Thomas G. Henderson | 43% | 25,833 | |
| 12 | Christine Hilleren | 40% | 9,913 | |
| 13 | Jim Fraiser | 39% | 30,466 | |
| 14 | Jeffery D. Morgan | 36% | 24,225 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At New Orleans, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Going to your hearing
Hearings in New Orleans move faster than the national average, leaving you a 7-month window to finalize your evidence. Your most critical task is submitting updated medical records that document your limitations since your last denial. The hearing itself typically involves you sitting before an ALJ and often a vocational expert. This expert testifies about whether jobs exist that fit your specific physical or mental restrictions. You have the right to question this expert, which is often the most important part of the proceeding. Ensure your medication list, daily-activity logs, and any witness statements are submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute evidence is restricted. A final decision will arrive by mail after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 40 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants spend the 7-month wait period simply hoping for a favorable outcome, but a prepared attorney uses that time to pressure-test the medical record against the vocational expert's likely testimony. This preparation ensures your evidence is ready for the specific judge assigned to your case.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at New Orleans, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.