Approval rates
The approval rate for Robert Martin is 47% based on 3,929 decisions on record since August 2016. This figure is at the lower end of the 47% to 75% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Nashville. In the most recent reporting period, your judge's 45% approval rate trailed the Nashville office average of 57% by 12 percentage points. These figures reflect historical trends rather than a fixed outcome 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 rate for Robert Martin has fluctuated since 2016. After an initial period, the rate shifted, eventually settling into a pattern where the latest-period approval rate of 45% remains consistent with recent yearly performance. This trend suggests a stable approach to case evaluation over the last several years. The recent data reflects a continuation of this established 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.
About the Nashville hearing office
Robert Martin's most recent office on record is the Nashville hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 57%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. For more information, see the Nashville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Nashville
SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Nashville, and their since-2016 approval rates range from 47% to 75%. In the latest SSA file, 4 of these judges recorded decisions at this office. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Robert Martin has an approval rate of 47% on record since 2016, which is at the lower end of the 47% to 75% range for the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Nashville. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Robert Martin has shifted over time, moving from 100% in 2016 to a more stable 45% in the most recent reporting period. This pattern reflects his recent decision-making trends. A free case review can help you determine how your medical evidence aligns with these trends. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No. SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your file before your hearing date.
