Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data sets. The Stockton office bench features judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 23% to 82%, reflecting the diversity of decision-making patterns within this location. These figures are based on 2,056 lifetime decisions, providing a statistically significant view of past performance. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Hill-Maxion. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hill-Maxion'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 2016, your approval trend for Sanya Hill-Maxion has shown variability, starting at 90% and moving through different cycles before reaching 51% in 2023. This record of 2,056 decisions illustrates how judicial patterns can shift over time. While the recent period reflects a departure from earlier, higher approval levels, it remains part of a broader, multi-year history. These fluctuations often correspond to changes in case complexity or the specific evidence presented in your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hill-Maxion'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Stockton hearing office
The Stockton hearing office serves you across California, operating as a critical hub for regional disability adjudications. The office bench consists of 11 judges on record, maintaining a latest-period approval rate of 44%. You can expect a formal process where evidence quality and medical documentation are the primary drivers of a favorable outcome. For more information, see the Stockton Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 11 judges on record at this office since 2016, 4 of whom reported in the latest SSA period. With lifetime approval rates across the bench spanning from 23% to 82%, the judge assigned to your case is a significant variable. You can find more information on the Stockton hearing office page.
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
Sanya Hill-Maxion sits at the higher end of the spectrum among the 11 judges on record at the Stockton office, who collectively range from 23% to 82% in lifetime approval rates. Because each judge evaluates evidence differently, having an attorney who understands these local variations can be a significant advantage. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of the hearing process.
Yes, the data shows a trend that has shifted across her 2,056 lifetime decisions since 2016. While her approval rate was 90% in 2016, it has fluctuated in the years since, reaching 51% in 2023. An attorney can help you determine how to best present your medical evidence regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is important to prepare a strong, evidence-based case that can succeed before any member of the bench. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of the hearing process.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of the hearing process.