Empty Chairs

[morgullord]

If those of us who work for ODAR pool our resources, we might be able to come up with a pretty good forecast of resource allocation.

I ask all ODAR denizens to contribute information about any of the hearing offices on the list. With 150 judges going into 71 hearing offices, it is apparent that more than one judge will go into some of these offices. There may be as many as three or four sent to some hearing offices.

If you are reluctant to post information about your hearing office because you want to remain unknown, send the information to me in a private message and I will publish it here without attribution.

If you work in one of the 71 offices listed on the FEAI, we want to know how many empty judge offices your hearing office has, how bad your backlog is, or any other information that may be helpful in predicting how many judges will go to specific offices.

Admittedly, the transfer list has an impact on this but I still believe we can make some shrewd guesses.

Here is what I have as of 2:20 PM EST on 10 January 2008:

All 71 cities get at least 1.

Additional slots:

Georgia:
Atlanta Downtown 1
Atlanta North 2
Macon 1

Louisiana:
Alexandria 1
Metarie 4
New Orleans 4
Shreveport 1

Mississippi:
Hattiesburg 1
Jackson 2

Missouri:
Creve Couer 1
Springfield 1

New York:
Albany 1
Syracuse 1

Ohio:
Cleveland 4

Puerto Rico: 5

South Carolina:
Greenville 3

TOTAL (so far): 104

This accounts for a little over 2/3 of the assignments.

[counsel]

I would also be interested in hearing about the travel or hearing schedules in different offices. Thanks!

[ALJD]

Great idea! Please post or pm your info to morgullord if you can. Thanks!

[crazybroad]

Albany and Syracuse have several empty offices. I heard Syracuse is getting one judge in the new hiring but that there is also a judge wishing to transfer there from Pittsburgh, suggesting that there will be 2 slots filled, one by new hire and one by transfer. Albany had a few retire. ALbany has one of the worst backlogs, like second or third worst pending per ALJ. Syracuse was something like 15th worst per ALJ. Syracuse has quite a travel area - Corning, Binghamton, Ogdensburg, Utica. However, they also have video. My prediction is that Syracuse is getting one new hire and Albany is getting at least 2.

[tootsie]

Yup. Heard the same thing.

[amj]

For what it is worth - heard through a reliable grapevine source that Jackson MS will get three and Hattiesburg MS will get one. I have previously heard that Hattiesburg has at least one judge who wants to transfer in, so I do not know if that means one transfer and one hire, just the transfer, or if the transfer has already declined.

[johnthornton]

During the last hiring, I know of a lawyer who was offered and accepted a position in Jackson, MS. However, before the class started, he changed his mind and the vacant position was never filled.

[morgullord]

It appears that the PR offices (San Juan and Ponce') will be getting as many as five new judges between the offices. Remember that this is a separate certificate from the big one.

Atlanta Downtown is likely to receive two new judges due to the transfer out of one ALJ and a huge backlog and pending per ALJ ratio.

[aljsouth]

I have been told Lousiana is seeking 12 judges with the majority going to Metarie and N.O. Alexandria and Shrevport also get at least one apiece.

[Propmaster]

I know for sure that Creve Couer, MO is getting 1, and I understand that Springfield, MO is getting 1.

[southerner]

In NO, there are 5 ALJ's. We have lost 5 (retirement, post K relocation) and could accomodate 6, but doubt there would be a need for so many at this time. Re Metairie, I believe they could use 5 max also, but again with population changes post K, I doubt these 2 offices will get 10+ judges, but who knows?

[morgullord]

That many new judges in one or two locations sould appear to defy conventional wisdom but the Commissioner has not hesitated to forge ahead in areas where others went slowly. Moreover, these assignments would fit in with the "culture change" sought by OCALJ.

[morgullord]

The transfer list is still being worked. I have heard there are approximately 20 names still on that list but I do not know if that is nationwide or for region IV offices only.

[lawdog98]

Note that there are reported to be six new judges going to Cleveland per a Plain Dealer Article.

blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/01/clevelands_long_waits_for_disa.html

[govtattorney]

that's great news about cleveland. thanks lawdog98. cleveland is high on my list.

[judicature]

If SSA is willing to release this information about the Cleveland office, then perhaps they would be willing to release this level of detail for all 71 offices.

[morgullord]

SSA is trying to juggle the remainder of the transfer list before assignments are finalized. With all due respect, I think an effort to get SSA to release its plans would be a waste of time because they could easily string out the release of information until assignments have been made.

[judicature]

Oh, I know morgullord.

I am not really suggesting asking, and regardless of the answer, nothing really changes for the individual candidate. As SSA has repeatedly mentioned, you are really interviewing for the job and not the office. I am just a little surprised that they issued such specific information in response to a media request . . . .

I gather from prior posts that Cleveland may represent a special situation for the agency.

[lawdog98]

govtattorney said:

that's great news about cleveland. thanks lawdog98. cleveland is high on my list.

Not a problem. I too have much love for The Best Location In the Nation! ;D

I think the large number of hires was mentioned to ease worries and likely unflattering media attention to the backlog problem. I have no idea if Cleveland is a special case or not, but more judges could not hurt.

[morgullord]

No job announcements up for Atlanta Downtown or Atlanta North so far.