Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure the data remains meaningful. While the judge's overall approval rate on record since 2023 is 42%, you can also look at the latest-period performance against the Stockton office average of 44%. These figures provide a baseline for understanding how a judge's decision-making aligns with local trends.
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 Bechtold'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 January 2023, the judge has issued 901 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows some fluctuation, moving from 42% in 2023 to 45% in 2024, followed by 38% in 2025 and 42% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern indicates that the judge's approval rate has remained relatively steady over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bechtold'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 Stockton hearing office
The Stockton Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across California. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 44%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 4 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 23% to 82% on their records.
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
Judge Bechtold's 42% approval rate since 2023 sits within the broader range of 23% to 82% seen among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The judge's approval rate has shown minor annual fluctuations, moving from 42% in 2023 to 45% in 2024, 38% in 2025, and 42% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the specific mix of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that hearings are distributed randomly among the available judges. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily activities, and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
