Approval rates
Judge Martin's lifetime approval rate of 65% is based on a docket of 23,683 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded a 76% approval rate, which compares to the Portland OR office average of 68% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a window into historical decision patterns, though they do not guarantee a specific outcome for your case. 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 9 years on the bench, your judge's approval rate has shown an upward trajectory. After a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2021, the trend shifted, with rates climbing to 77% in 2025. This recent pattern reflects a shift in the decision-making environment or the types of cases being heard. The latest period reflects a continuation of this rising pattern.
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.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Portland OR hearing office
The Portland OR Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Oregon and the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of cases to ensure timely processing. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 68%. You can find more information on the Portland OR Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Portland OR office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 49% to 76%. Because your assignment is outside your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important step. You can find more information on the Portland OR 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.