Who decides cases at this office
The 9 ALJs at the Lansing office show a moderate spread in their allowance rates, which range from 37% to 68% with a median of 59%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This variation means your file must be robust enough to support your claim regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Dispositions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Ambrose | 68% | 4,488 | |
| 2 | James J. Kent | 62% | 4,328 | |
| 3 | Thomas L. Walters | 59% | 1,184 | |
| 4 | Lawrence E. Blatnik | 59% | 3,045 | |
| 5 | Amy L. Rosenberg | 59% | 4,526 | |
| 6 | Thomas L. English | 52% | 113 | |
| 7 | David Read | 50% | 4,128 | |
| 8 | Brian Burgtorf | 42% | 2,889 | |
| 9 | Paul W. Jones | 37% | 5,186 |
How long you'll wait
At Lansing, 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.
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.
Going to your hearing
With a 7-month wait, you have a steady period to ensure your medical records are complete. Your hearing will typically involve an ALJ and a vocational expert who will testify regarding available work. You should bring updated medical records, a list of medications with side effects, and a daily-activity log to the hearing. Since evidence-submission deadlines are strict, you must provide all documentation well before your date. The ALJ will weigh your testimony alongside the vocational expert's assessment of your physical or mental limits. A decision typically arrives by mail several weeks after the proceedings conclude.
Hearings at this office come up faster than the national average, leaving little room for last-minute evidence gathering once your date is set. Since the panel's allowance rates vary by 31 points, having a representative who understands how to present evidence to different judges is a significant advantage. This variation highlights the importance of a well-documented file that addresses your specific functional limitations.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Lansing, 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.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at the Lansing office is 7 months. This is faster than the national average of 8.2 months, so ensure your medical evidence is ready early. An attorney can help you prepare your file within this timeframe.
Cases are assigned randomly to one of the 9 ALJs at the Lansing office. Because there is a moderate spread in allowance rates across the panel, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards common to this group.
You generally cannot request a specific judge. If you have concerns about a potential conflict of interest, discuss them with an attorney who can evaluate the appropriate legal steps.
While not required, representation is highly recommended. Given the 31-point spread in allowance rates among the Lansing panel, an attorney can help ensure your file is strong enough to meet the requirements of any judge assigned to your case.