Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Joseph T. Marcee maintains a 51% approval rate since 2023, his latest-period approval rate of 49% sits 6 points below the current 55% average for the Long Beach office. These figures are based on a docket of 670 decisions, providing a look at recent patterns.
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 Marcee'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 September 2023, Joseph T. Marcee has presided over 670 decisions. His approval rate was 47% in 2024, 54% in 2025, and 49% in 2026. These fluctuations reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented in your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Marcee'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 Long Beach hearing office
Joseph T. Marcee's most recent office on record is the Long Beach hearing office, with activity recorded through July 2026. This office serves the California region and maintains a bench of 10 judges with varying approval histories. You can see the Long Beach hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Long Beach office. Approval rates among this bench range from 32% to 76% on their records since 2016.
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 T. Marcee's latest-period approval rate of 49% is 6 points lower than the 55% average for the Long Beach office. While this provides context, every case is unique, and an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows an approval rate of 47% in 2024, 54% in 2025, and 49% in 2026. These shifts are common and do not necessarily indicate a change in judicial philosophy. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Joseph T. Marcee has approved 339 cases out of 670 since 2023, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence meets the necessary standards for approval.
