Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with approval rates for individual judges ranging from 20% to 73%. This wide spread means that which judge you draw can impact your hearing experience. Because cases are assigned randomly, your file must be strong enough to succeed regardless of who presides over your session.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theresa Merrill | 73% | 2,964 | |
| 2 | Meryl L. Lissek | 69% | 2,268 | |
| 3 | Donna A. Krappa | 68% | 2,626 | |
| 4 | Richard West | 65% | 3,557 | |
| 5 | John Campbell | 63% | 2,533 | |
| 6 | Douglass Alvarado | 61% | 1,763 | |
| 7 | Leonard Olarsch | 60% | 1,001 | |
| 8 | Dennis O'Leary | 60% | 1,837 | |
| 9 | Karen Shelton | 59% | 3,498 | |
| 10 | Leah Farrell | 57% | 260 | |
| 11 | Ricardy Damille | 56% | 3,504 | |
| 12 | Sharon Allard | 55% | 2,992 | |
| 13 | Beth Shillin | 54% | 2,308 | |
| 14 | Leonard F. Costa | 53% | 3,299 | |
| 15 | Kenneth Ayers | 41% | 3,306 | |
| 16 | John Giannopoulos | 27% | 79 | |
| 17 | Peter R. Lee | 20% | 2,540 |
How long you'll wait
At Newark, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 months— versus a national average of 8.2 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
Your hearing is a formal proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge will review your claim and hear testimony. You should arrive with updated medical records covering the period since your initial denial, as these are the most critical documents for your case. A vocational expert may testify about whether jobs exist that fit your specific physical or mental limitations. You have the right to question this expert to clarify how your impairments prevent you from working. Because the wait time at this office has been trending upward, use the 9-month window to ensure your medication list, daily-activity logs, and witness statements are comprehensive. Once the hearing concludes, a decision will be mailed to you.
When a panel's approval rates span more than 50 points, your file must be robust enough that no judge can dismiss it due to weak documentation. An attorney who understands the Newark panel can help you anticipate the vocational expert's questions and pressure-test your evidence before you walk into the hearing room.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Newark, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. SSA's published service areas route these offices' appeals here. 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 this office is 9 months. This is slightly higher than the national average of 8.2 months. An attorney can help you understand how to manage this wait time effectively.
Cases are assigned randomly to the judges whose most recent office on record is Newark. Because each judge weighs evidence differently, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards common to this panel.
You generally cannot choose your judge, as assignments are made by the SSA to ensure impartiality. If you have concerns about your assigned judge, discuss them with an attorney who can evaluate your options.
While not required, having representation is a significant advantage. Represented claimants are statistically more likely to be allowed benefits, especially when navigating the complex vocational testimony presented at the hearing stage. An attorney can help you navigate these complexities.
