Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers requires looking at the full scope of their recorded activity. At the Baltimore hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 79%. This variance highlights the importance of presenting a case tailored to the specific evidentiary standards of your assigned judge.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Carlos. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Carlos'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 record for Tierney Carlos spans from 2016 to 2020, covering 1,680 lifetime decisions. Over this period, the approval rate showed a steady trend, beginning at 43% in 2016 and reaching 61% by 2020. This progression reflects the evolution of the cases heard and the evidence presented during this period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Carlos'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office serves you throughout Maryland and the surrounding region. With 26 judges on record, this office manages a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is effectively random. There are 26 judges on record at this office since 2016. Because approval rates across the bench range from 32% to 79%, it is vital to be prepared regardless of who hears your case.
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
Tierney Carlos has a lifetime approval rate of 55% across 1,680 decisions. This sits within the broader office-wide range of 32% to 79% for all judges on record. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific office.
Yes, the data shows a steady upward trend in approval rates between 2016 and 2020. Starting at 43% in 2016, the rate increased to 61% by 2020. An attorney can help you evaluate how these historical trends might relate to the current evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a 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. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.