Approval rates
The approval rate for Trace Baldwin is based on 1,812 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. When comparing this to the broader bench, the 11 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file show a range of 46% to 80% on their since-2016 records. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
Judge Baldwin is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Baldwin isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Baldwin'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
Trace Baldwin's approval rate has shown an upward trend over the 1,812 decisions on record since 2016. The rate was 81% in 2016, 80% in 2017, 78% in 2018, 86% in 2019, 90% in 2020, 97% in 2021, 100% in 2022, and 100% in 2023.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Baldwin'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
The Oklahoma City Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Trace Baldwin as of September 2023. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Oklahoma City Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Approval rates vary across the office's bench, with the 11 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 46% to 80% on their since-2016 records. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 11 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Trace Baldwin's 85% approval rate on record since 2016 sits above the 46% to 80% range observed among the 11 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
Yes, the approval rate for Trace Baldwin has trended upward over the record period, moving from 81% in 2016 to 100% in 2023. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how this historical pattern relates to your specific hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file and hears testimony. You will have the opportunity to explain your limitations and how they prevent you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in any disability claim. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration.
