Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 58% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a stable baseline derived from 3,046 decisions. When viewed against the 19% to 68% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, this figure helps you contextualize the historical pattern. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Lisiecki III. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lisiecki III'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 Joseph P. Lisiecki III has shown shifts across the 3,046 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of fluctuation, the data indicates a rise in approval rates during 2023 and 2024, followed by a rate of 65% in 2025. These trends are common in long-term data and may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lisiecki III'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
The Orange hearing office is the most recent office on record for Joseph P. Lisiecki III as of September 2025. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orange
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, 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 their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 19% to 68%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the local bench is helpful.
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
Joseph P. Lisiecki III has an approval rate of 58% on record since 2016. This sits within the 19% to 68% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this judge's specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the 3,046 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 54% in 2016, it reached 72% in 2023 and 2024 before settling at 65% in 2025. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for whichever judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the 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 for the questions you are likely to face.
