Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office vary significantly, as the panel’s allowance rates span from 31% to 84%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you could draw a judge with a lower or higher approval rate. This variation means your file must be prepared to meet a high standard of evidence, as the judge's individual interpretation of your medical records will be the primary driver of your final decision.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Wallis | 78% | 25,587 | |
| 2 | Mark A. Brown | 77% | 1,613 | |
| 3 | Alaina Davis | 71% | 3,849 | |
| 4 | Bradley Hanan | 70% | 30,074 | |
| 5 | Sherianne Laba | 64% | 1,694 | |
| 6 | Robert S. Robison | 59% | 2,565 | |
| 7 | Stephen M. Hanekamp | 57% | 24,554 | |
| 8 | Nathaniel Plucker | 55% | 20,307 | |
| 9 | John R. Price | 54% | 33,052 | |
| 10 | Joseph L. Heimann | 52% | 12,148 | |
| 11 | Gerald Meyr | 52% | 22,445 | |
| 12 | Lori Imsland | 49% | 27,405 | |
| 13 | Chandreka Allen | 48% | 17,316 | |
| 14 | Richard Hopkins | 48% | 21,959 | |
| 15 | Henry DeWoskin | 46% | 22,700 | |
| 16 | Lisa Leslie | 37% | 24,804 | |
| 17 | Koren Mueller | 34% | 20,659 | |
| 18 | Robert V. Luetkenhaus | 34% | 20,852 | |
| 19 | Katherine Jecklin | 31% | 16,040 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At St. Louis, 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 at the Robert A. Young Federal Building move at a steady pace, giving you a predictable window to finalize your evidence. You must submit all updated medical records, medication logs, and statements regarding your daily limitations well before your hearing date. During the proceeding, an ALJ will preside while a vocational expert typically testifies about job availability based on your specific physical or mental restrictions. You and your attorney will have the opportunity to question the expert to clarify how your impairments prevent you from maintaining full-time work. A formal decision is usually mailed to your home after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span such a wide range, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. While the office-wide 54% allowance rate is standard, the risk of drawing a judge with a lower approval rate makes professional preparation essential. An attorney can pressure-test your evidence against the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration to ensure your case is ready for any judge on the panel.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at St. Louis, 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.