Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. At the Albuquerque hearing office, lifetime approval rates among judges range from 41% to 89%. In the most recent reporting period, Michael Leppala maintained a 51% approval rate, which is 2 points higher than the office average of 49%. These figures are based on a docket of 3,733 lifetime decisions.
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 Leppala'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, the decision record for Michael Leppala shows a varied trend. After an approval rate of 50% in 2017, the numbers fluctuated, reaching a low of 38% in 2019 before rising to 51% in 2021 and 51% in 2026. The most recent data reflects a period of stability, with the latest-period approval rate of 51% continuing this recent trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Leppala'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 Albuquerque hearing office
The Albuquerque hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout New Mexico. This office features a bench of 16 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 49%. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary driver of the outcome.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom reported in SSA's latest period. With lifetime approval rates across the bench ranging from 41% to 89%, the specific judge assigned to your case is a significant variable.
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
Michael Leppala has a lifetime approval rate of 45%, which sits within the 41% to 89% range seen across the Albuquerque bench. In the latest period, his 51% approval rate is 2 points higher than the office average of 49%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively before this judge.
Yes, the approval rate for Michael Leppala has fluctuated since 2016. While he saw a low of 38% in 2019, his rate has trended upward in recent years, reaching 51% in 2026. An attorney can help you evaluate how these historical patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and fairness. Because you cannot select your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your ability to perform daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Michael Leppala has 3,733 lifetime decisions on record, which provides a stable data set, but your individual outcome depends on the strength of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.