Approval rates
Judge Martin maintains a lifetime approval rate of 57%, which provides a baseline for understanding his decision-making history. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 61%, placing him 2 percentage points above the current Evansville Hearing Office average. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, offering a look at his historical tendencies. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Martin'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
Over his 10 years on the bench, Judge Martin has navigated a varied caseload, with annual approval rates fluctuating between a low of 45% in 2020 and a high of 66% in 2023. This trend indicates that his approach to evidence and testimony has evolved, with the most recent data showing a return toward his lifetime average. While his latest period reflects a 61% approval rate, the yearly shifts suggest that case mix and documentation quality remain the primary drivers of his rulings. These trends reflect the broader operational shifts within the hearing office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Martin'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.
Hearing with Judge Martin? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Evansville hearing office
The Evansville Hearing Office serves a broad population across Indiana, managing a high volume of disability claims annually. With a team of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 55%. You should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical evidence presented in your file. You can see the Evansville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Evansville Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 49% to 57%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the hearing room, variance in approval rates is a standard feature of the system. You can find more information on the office's general operations on the hearing office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.