Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office shows a spread in allowance rates, ranging from 54% to 81%. Because judges weigh evidence differently, the judge assigned to your case can influence the outcome. This variation is why your file must be robust enough to stand on its own merits regardless of the specific judge assigned to your hearing.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter J. Baum | 63% | 29,069 | |
| 2 | Wynne O'Brien-Persons | 57% | 20,773 | |
| 3 | Janice E. Shave | 53% | 8,935 | |
| 4 | Craig Denney | 41% | 14,727 | |
| 5 | William A. Kurlander | 37% | 14,371 | |
| 6 | Eileen Burlison | 27% | 855 |
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 Reno, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 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 an 8-month wait, you have time to ensure your medical records are fully updated since your last denial. Your hearing will typically involve an ALJ reviewing your file and a vocational expert testifying about available work. You must submit all new evidence well before the deadline. Bring your current medication list, including documented side effects, and a daily-activity log that highlights your physical limitations. The judge will preside over the session, and you or your representative will have the opportunity to question the vocational expert. A decision is rarely made on the spot and will arrive by mail in the weeks following your appearance.
When a panel's allowance rates span 27 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to gaps in documentation. An attorney uses the months leading up to your hearing to pressure-test your medical evidence against the vocational standards the expert will use. This preparation ensures your case is ready for the hearing room.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Reno, 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.