Who decides cases at this office
The 23 judges at this office show a wide spread in their allowance rates, with outcomes ranging from 18% to 70%. Because of this variation, which judge you draw can impact your case. Cases are assigned randomly, and each judge weighs medical evidence differently. This makes it essential to build a file that is strong enough to stand up to the scrutiny of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Dispositions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Murdock | 70% | 3,358 | |
| 2 | Peter F. Gazda | 68% | 4,864 | |
| 3 | Dwight D. Wilkerson | 60% | 4,064 | |
| 4 | Lissette C. Perez | 56% | 2,911 | |
| 5 | Don A. Harper | 53% | 2,570 | |
| 6 | Ilene B. Kramer | 53% | 4,278 | |
| 7 | Melinda W. Kirkpatrick | 51% | 5,374 | |
| 8 | David R. Wurm | 50% | 5,361 | |
| 9 | Matthew Allen | 49% | 5,881 | |
| 10 | Bernard J. McKay | 47% | 4,946 | |
| 11 | Robert M. McPhail | 45% | 4,434 | |
| 12 | Charles L. Brower | 43% | 5,173 | |
| 13 | Janice L. Holmes | 42% | 4,485 | |
| 14 | Penny Wilkov | 41% | 4,187 | |
| 15 | Katherine W. Brown | 41% | 4,849 | |
| 16 | Ben Barnett | 40% | 4,431 | |
| 17 | Marc Jones | 33% | 2,527 | |
| 18 | Barbara C. Marquardt | 33% | 341 | |
| 19 | Mark M. Swayze | 27% | 4,661 | |
| 20 | Barbara Powell | 24% | 1,932 | |
| 21 | Susan Whittington | 20% | 2,045 | |
| 22 | Gordan Momcilovic | 20% | 4,810 | |
| 23 | Jonathan P. Blucher | 18% | 1,807 |
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 San Antonio, 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
Your hearing is a formal proceeding where you will testify under oath before an Administrative Law Judge. With a 23-judge panel that varies significantly in how they weigh evidence, your preparation must be thorough. You should bring an updated list of all medications, including side effects, and a detailed log of your daily activities. If you have new medical records or witness statements, submit them well before the deadline to ensure they are part of your file. During the hearing, a vocational expert will often testify about the types of jobs available for someone with your specific limitations. You have the right to question this expert, which is often the most important part of the session. A decision will be mailed to you after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 50 points, your file must be robust enough that no judge can dismiss it due to gaps in documentation. Identifying the specific weaknesses in your medical record that might trigger a denial is a key step in your preparation. Preparing for the vocational expert's testimony is also a primary hurdle for many claimants as they navigate the hearing process.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at San Antonio, 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 8 months. This wait time has been trending upward over the last year, so it is important to stay proactive with your medical documentation. An attorney can help you manage your case timeline.
Cases are assigned randomly to one of the 23 Administrative Law Judges at this office. Because there is a wide spread in allowance rates among the panel, an attorney can help you understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your case.
Generally, you cannot choose your judge. However, if there is a conflict of interest or specific legal grounds, an attorney can advise you on the proper procedures for addressing concerns regarding your assigned ALJ.
While you are not required to have an attorney, the wide variation in judge allowance rates at this office makes professional representation a significant advantage. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the vocational expert's testimony.