Approval rates
Comparing judicial approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Mark Baker's 47% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term baseline, while latest-period data offers a view of more recent activity. When evaluated against the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Richmond office, Mark Baker sits within a range of 18% to 59%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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'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 September 2016, Mark Baker has issued 2,787 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 50% in 2016 to 56% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This latest-period performance of 56% is higher than the long-term average of 47%. These shifts often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented, rather than a fixed judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Baker'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 Richmond hearing office
Mark Baker's most recent office on record is the Richmond hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 45%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Richmond
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Richmond office, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 59% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Mark Baker's 47% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 18% to 59% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Richmond office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 37% in 2019 to a high of 59% in 2024. The latest-period approval rate of 56% suggests a recent trend that differs from the 47% average recorded since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a comprehensive case file that addresses the requirements of any judge at the Richmond office.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent with your medical records.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Mark Baker has approved 47% of cases since 2016, your individual outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence to put your case in the best position for approval.
