Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge has a 76% approval rate since 2016, the latest-period approval rate of 67% sits 6 points above the San Rafael office average of 61%. These figures are derived from 3,574 decisions on record, providing a clear view of past activity.
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 Campbell'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
The approval trend for your judge has shown variation over the 3,574 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching a peak of 84% in 2022, the approval rate has seen a more recent adjustment, with the latest period recording 67%. This recent shift reflects a departure from the higher rates observed in the 2021-2024 window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Campbell'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 San Rafael hearing office
The San Rafael hearing office serves you in the California region. As of the most recent record in July 2026, the office bench consisted of 8 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 43% to 79% on their since-2016 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
Robert F. Campbell's 76% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 43% to 79% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is San Rafael. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the 3,574 decisions on record, moving from 66% in 2016 to a peak of 84% in 2022, before settling at 67% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making your assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of which judge is assigned to you.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence meets the necessary standards to improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
