Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office vary significantly across the panel, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 78% among judges with at least 30 decisions on record since 2016. Because cases are assigned randomly, which judge you draw matters, as each weighs evidence differently. This wide spread means you should not rely on the office average; your file must be prepared to meet the standards of the most stringent judge on the bench.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gene Duncan | 78% | 417 | |
| 2 | Margaret M. Sullivan | 74% | 3,638 | |
| 3 | Gary Elliott | 66% | 382 | |
| 4 | Paul Gaughen | 65% | 1,162 | |
| 5 | Joanne E. Dantonio | 59% | 1,427 | |
| 6 | Marilyn S. Mauer | 58% | 1,414 | |
| 7 | Melissa Warner | 56% | 1,897 | |
| 8 | James W. Sherry | 56% | 429 | |
| 9 | S. Andrew Grace | 51% | 1,097 | |
| 10 | David Johnson | 49% | 3,952 | |
| 11 | Robert P. Kingsley | 48% | 159 | |
| 12 | Kelly Wilson | 47% | 481 | |
| 13 | Lawrence Lee | 46% | 1,912 | |
| 14 | Mark Triplett | 43% | 3,581 | |
| 15 | Gerald J. Hill | 36% | 711 | |
| 16 | Michael Gilbert | 34% | 262 | |
| 17 | Rebecca L. Jones | 30% | 1,438 |
How long you'll wait
At Tacoma, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 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
With an 8-month wait, you have a window to build a strong file before you step into the hearing room. Your goal is to submit updated medical records, a detailed medication list including side effects, and a log of your daily limitations. The hearing typically involves an ALJ and a vocational expert who will testify regarding available work. Because the panel of judges here shows a wide variation in approval rates, your evidence must be clear and objective. Ensure all documents are submitted well before the deadline to avoid restrictions on late evidence.
When a panel's approval rates span nearly 50 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to documentation gaps. An attorney uses the months leading up to your hearing to bridge these gaps and prepare you for the vocational expert's testimony. Strengthening your file early is a proactive way to manage the uncertainty of the hearing process.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Tacoma, 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 current average wait for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is faster than the national average of 8.2 months. An attorney can help you understand how to use this time to strengthen your case.
Cases are assigned randomly to judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Because there is a wide spread in approval rates among these judges, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to meet the requirements of any judge.
You generally cannot choose your judge. If you have concerns about your assigned ALJ, discuss them with an attorney who can evaluate if there are valid legal grounds to request a change.
While you are not required to have a lawyer, the wide variation in judge approval rates at this office makes professional representation a significant advantage. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare for the specific questions a vocational expert may ask.
