Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 21 judges at this office shows moderate variation, with allowance rates ranging from 47% to 72% among active judges. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This makes it vital to ensure your file is robust enough to stand up to scrutiny regardless of which judge is assigned to your claim.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James A. Burke | 89% | 18,933 | |
| 2 | Raul C. Pardo | 69% | 8,758 | |
| 3 | Frederick Upshall Jr. | 62% | 12,007 | |
| 4 | Ben Ballengee | 59% | 9,471 | |
| 5 | Michelle K. Lindsay | 54% | 22,661 | |
| 6 | Eric Weiss | 54% | 15,926 | |
| 7 | Jennifer M. Fellabaum | 53% | 23,194 | |
| 8 | Ann Farris | 51% | 11,999 | |
| 9 | Stephen Gontis | 48% | 12,234 | |
| 10 | Talia Timmins | 47% | 4,540 | |
| 11 | Lillian Richter | 47% | 16,453 | |
| 12 | Cole Gerstner | 46% | 15,107 | |
| 13 | Michael Leppala | 44% | 25,803 | |
| 14 | Robert Freedman | 41% | 21,421 |
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 Albuquerque, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 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 9-month wait, you have a clear runway to strengthen your file before your hearing date. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, as these are the most critical pieces of evidence for an ALJ to review. You should also maintain a daily log of your symptoms and limitations to provide concrete examples of how your condition impacts your ability to work. Your hearing will typically last 45 to 60 minutes, during which a vocational expert will likely testify about available jobs in the national economy. You will have the opportunity to question this expert regarding whether those jobs are truly feasible given your specific health restrictions. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are often restricted. A final decision will arrive by mail in the weeks following your appearance.
A 9-month wait is time most people spend simply waiting, but an experienced attorney uses that period to pressure-test your medical evidence against the requirements of the Social Security Administration. When a panel's allowance rates span 25 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Evaluating your current evidence and identifying the gaps often leads to a more effective presentation at the hearing stage.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Albuquerque, 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.