Approval rates
In the most recent reporting period, Judge Baker maintained a 69% approval rate, which stands 1 point above the Baltimore office average and 9 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 20,066 lifetime decisions, providing a reliable look at his judicial history. Comparing these rates to regional and national benchmarks helps you contextualize the environment of your upcoming hearing.
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 Baker Jr.'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
Over his 10-year tenure, Judge Baker has demonstrated a consistent approach to your disability claim. While his approval rate saw some fluctuation between 2017 and 2018, the trend has remained steady in recent years, with a 73% approval rate in 2024 and 70% in 2025. This suggests a stable decision-making process that aligns closely with his long-term average. The recent data indicates that his approach remains consistent with the broader trends of the Baltimore hearing office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Baker Jr.'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.
Hearing with Judge Baker Jr.? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Maryland, managing a high volume of cases. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 66%. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can visit the Baltimore Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your specific judge is assigned randomly. Within the Baltimore office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 46% to 81%. This variance highlights why you should focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of the judge assigned to your case.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.