Merrill, Theresa
Newark, NJ · Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Hearing Approval Rate
64.8%
Above the national average of 48.6%
Disability judges hear appeals after an initial claim is denied. Judge Merrill approves 64.8% of cases — knowing your judge’s track record helps you and your representative prepare. How to prepare for your hearing →
How Judge Merrill Decides Cases
Nat'l avg: 48.6%
Nat'l avg: 35.0%
Nat'l avg: 16.3%
Know Your Numbers
Judge Merrill approved 64.8% of dispositions. That’s 16.2 percentage points above the national average of 48.6%. Merrill decided 193 cases out of 236 total dispositions. Under SSA’s methodology (excluding dismissals), the approval rate is 79.3%. Knowing your judge’s track record can help you prepare for your hearing.
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Get Your Free GuideDetailed Case Counts— Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Total Cases
236
Approved
153
Denied
40
Hearing Office
Newark (NJ)
8.0 months wait · 3,967 pending
Whether your judge's approval rate is high or low, the strongest factor in your outcome is the quality of your medical evidence and whether you have representation. How judge approval rates vary nationally →
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Appearing before Judge Merrill?
Claimants with representation are approved at nearly 3× the rate. A free case evaluation takes less than two minutes — and it could change the outcome of your claim.
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