Approval rates
The 33% approval rate for Barbara C. Marquardt is based on 258 lifetime decisions. Within the San Antonio hearing office, the 23 judges on record show a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 18% to 70%. This variance highlights why your specific judge matters to your case outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Marquardt. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Marquardt'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
Barbara C. Marquardt has presided over 258 decisions since 2016. The record shows a consistent approval pattern throughout this period. Because this judge's data is concentrated in a specific timeframe, the 33% rate reflects a stable approach to evaluating claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Marquardt'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 San Antonio hearing office
The San Antonio hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 23 judges on record. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality remains the primary factor in any decision. You can see the San Antonio Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The San Antonio hearing office currently has 23 judges on record since 2016, with 17 of those reported in the latest SSA period. SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. With office-wide lifetime approval rates ranging from 18% to 70%, the judge you are assigned can influence your hearing experience.
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
Barbara C. Marquardt has a lifetime approval rate of 33%. This sits within the broader office range of 18% to 70% seen among the 23 judges on record at the San Antonio office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with this judge's history.
The data for Barbara C. Marquardt shows a consistent approval pattern of 33% across 258 decisions since 2016. This stability suggests a steady approach to case evaluation. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards this judge expects.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of the San Antonio hearing office.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and a judge discuss your medical evidence. The judge may also call in vocational or medical experts to provide testimony. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Barbara C. Marquardt has a 33% lifetime approval rate, your case's success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the judge assigned.