Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's record requires looking at both their long-term history and recent performance. Judge Martin's lifetime approval rate of 57% sits within the 49% to 57% range observed across the Evansville bench. In the most recent reporting period, his 62% approval rate compares to the office-wide 55% rate. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your hearing.
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
The approval trend for Judge Martin has shown movement since 2016. After a period of fluctuation, including a low in 2020, the rate trended upward through 2023 and 2024 before stabilizing in the most recent period. This 4,188-decision record provides a view of how his approach has evolved over the last decade. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, suggesting a consistent application of Social Security Administration guidelines.
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.
About the Evansville hearing office
The Evansville hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Indiana and the surrounding region. With 7 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 55%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. See the Evansville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is selected randomly. There are 7 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary, with lifetime averages ranging from 49% to 57%. You should prepare your case thoroughly regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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
Judge Martin's 57% lifetime approval rate is at the top end of the 49% to 57% range seen among his peers at the Evansville hearing office. While every judge has a unique approach, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in his approval patterns since 2016. After reaching a low of 44% in 2020, his approval rate rose to 66% in 2023 and has remained at 62% in the most recent period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the current evidence requirements for your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney can help you prepare a robust case that is ready for any ALJ.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for this testimony and ensure your medical evidence is properly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. While Judge Martin's 62% latest-period rate is higher than the 55% office average, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your case file before your hearing.