Approval rates
Comparing Robert Lenzini's performance requires looking at both his long-term record and recent trends. His 61% approval rate since 2017 sits within the 19% to 68% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office. In the latest reporting period, his 77% approval rate outperformed the office average by 18 percentage points. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Lenzini'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 2017, Robert Lenzini has issued 3,202 decisions. His yearly approval trend has fluctuated, showing a rise in recent years compared to his earlier record. While his approval rate was 40% in 2017, it reached 81% in 2025 and is 77% in the partial 2026 fiscal year data. This recent performance reflects a shift from his historical average, suggesting that the latest period diverges from his long-term pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lenzini'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 Orange hearing office
Robert Lenzini's most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the California region and maintains a bench of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 59%, providing context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orange
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, and 4 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 19% to 68% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to 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
Robert Lenzini's 61% approval rate since 2017 is positioned within the 19% to 68% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office. In the latest reporting period, he approved 77% of cases, which is 18 percentage points higher than the office's 59% average. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, Robert Lenzini's approval rate has shown an upward trend. After an initial 40% approval rate in 2017, his decisions have trended higher, reaching 81% in 2025 and 77% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these shifts is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the hearing office. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome, which is where an attorney can help you.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
