Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 13 ALJs in Syracuse shows a wide spread in approval rates, ranging from 40% to 86%. This variation means that the specific judge assigned to your case can influence the outcome. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, making it essential that your file is robust enough to meet the evidentiary standards of any member of the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John M. Lischak | 86% | 1,638 | |
| 2 | Barry E. Ryan | 62% | 470 | |
| 3 | Jeremy G. Eldred | 61% | 3,535 | |
| 4 | Jennifer Gale Smith | 60% | 3,874 | |
| 5 | F. P. Flanagan | 59% | 102 | |
| 6 | Bruce S. Fein | 55% | 3,815 | |
| 7 | John P. Ramos | 53% | 3,381 | |
| 8 | Marie Greener | 52% | 487 | |
| 9 | Robyn L. Hoffman | 50% | 2,115 | |
| 10 | Robert E. Gale | 48% | 230 | |
| 11 | Mary Jane Pelton | 47% | 1,453 | |
| 12 | Kenneth Theurer | 44% | 4,323 | |
| 13 | Elizabeth W. Koennecke | 40% | 2,449 |
How long you'll wait
At Syracuse, 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.
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
The 7.5-month wait at the Syracuse office provides a necessary runway to ensure your medical records are complete. You must submit all new evidence well before your hearing date, as late filings are often restricted. During your hearing, an ALJ will preside while a vocational expert typically testifies about available work. You should arrive with an updated list of medications, a log of your daily activities, and any recent statements from your doctors. Because the panel's approval rates vary widely, your preparation must focus on objective evidence that supports your claim under any judge. A final decision will arrive by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's approval rates span over 40 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney who understands the Syracuse panel can help you anticipate the vocational expert's questions and ensure your medical history is presented in a way that aligns with Social Security Administration standards. Use your remaining wait time to have a professional evaluate your evidence before you testify.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Syracuse, 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.
Frequently asked questions
The current average wait for a hearing at this office is 7.5 months. This is faster than the national average of 8.2 months, providing you a predictable timeline to finalize your medical evidence.
Judges are assigned to cases randomly at the Syracuse office. Because the panel has a wide approval-rate spread, you should prepare your case to be as strong as possible, regardless of which of the 13 judges is assigned to you. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific tendencies of this panel.
You generally cannot choose your judge. If you have concerns about your assigned ALJ, an attorney can review the specific procedural rules to determine if a request for a change is appropriate for your situation.
While you are not required to have an attorney, the wide variation in judge approval rates at this office makes professional representation a significant advantage. An attorney can help ensure your testimony and medical records are structured to meet the specific requirements of the ALJ panel.