Approval rates
The approval rates for Jonathan P. Baird are based on 3,804 decisions on record since 2016. When compared to the bench at the Lawrence MA hearing office, which ranges from 41% to 73% in approval rates, this data provides a clear view of historical trends. In the latest reporting period, the judge maintained a 73% approval rate, which is 12 percentage points higher than the office average of 61%. These figures reflect historical performance rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Baird's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
Since 2016, your approval rate has shown a varied trend, peaking at 80% in 2018 and 2019 before shifting in recent years. The rate reached 73% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. This pattern is based on 3,804 total decisions on record. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that the judge's approach remains consistent with recent performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Baird's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Lawrence MA hearing office
The Lawrence MA hearing office serves claimants across the region. With 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lawrence MA
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office, and 4 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 41% to 73%.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Jonathan P. Baird has an approval rate of 73% on record since 2016, which is at the top of the range for the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Jonathan P. Baird has fluctuated over time, starting at 68% in 2016, peaking at 80% in 2018 and 2019, and currently sitting at 73% for the 2026 fiscal year-to-date. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face during the hearing.
The 73% approval rate for Jonathan P. Baird is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you determine how to best present your specific medical evidence.
