Who decides cases at this office
The 11 judges at this office show a moderate spread in their allowance rates, which range from 48% to 74% with a median of 56%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs evidence differently. This variation means your file must be robust enough to meet the evidentiary standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William G. Brown | 68% | 14,685 | |
| 2 | David B. Washington | 67% | 22,658 | |
| 3 | Corey Ayling | 61% | 27,913 | |
| 4 | Jeffrey W. Hart | 60% | 27,160 | |
| 5 | Michael D. Quayle | 58% | 3,351 | |
| 6 | Sarah Lough | 56% | 4,791 | |
| 7 | Peter Kimball | 53% | 29,319 | |
| 8 | Micah Pharris | 47% | 28,192 | |
| 9 | Virginia Kuhn | 46% | 15,187 | |
| 10 | Nicholas Grey | 46% | 18,573 | |
| 11 | Joshua Klasic | 45% | 4,866 | |
| 12 | Stewart Alford | 44% | 1,906 | |
| 13 | Mary M. Kunz | 43% | 4,625 | |
| 14 | Roger W. Thomas | 34% | 6,910 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Minneapolis, 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
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 steady 7-month wait, you have a predictable window to organize your medical records before your hearing date. Your hearing will likely last 45 to 60 minutes, during which an ALJ will preside and a vocational expert will often testify regarding available work. You must submit all updated medical evidence well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. Bring your identification, a detailed log of your daily activities, and a list of your current medications including their side effects. If you have witness statements from former coworkers or family members, these can also provide essential context for your limitations. The judge will not issue a decision on the spot; you will receive a written notice by mail several weeks later.
Hearings at this office move faster than the national average, leaving less room for error if your initial evidence submission is incomplete. When a panel's approval rates span 26 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. This variation across the panel highlights the importance of a well-documented medical history.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Minneapolis, 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.