Approval rates
Judge Burke’s approval rate is 34 points higher than the current Albuquerque Hearing Office average of 55%. When compared to the national average of 58%, his decisions reflect a consistent pattern of allowance over his 5-year tenure. These statistics are derived from a docket of 16,701 lifetime decisions. 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 Burke'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 5 years on the bench, Judge Burke has maintained a steady approval rate. His yearly performance shows minimal fluctuation, with rates consistently hovering near 89%, peaking at 92% in 2020. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evaluating evidence and disability criteria. The data reflects a continuation of this long-term pattern, which remains above regional and national benchmarks.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burke'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 Burke? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Albuquerque hearing office
The Albuquerque Hearing Office serves a population across New Mexico, managing a volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office operates under standard SSA protocols for hearing procedures and evidence review. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 55%, which serves as a baseline for the region. You can visit the Albuquerque 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 you cannot choose your judge. Within the Albuquerque Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 41% to 89%. This variance highlights why it is important to understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your case. The office's bench provides a wide range of outcomes for your review.
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.