Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure an accurate picture. The 35% approval rate for Joel B. Martinez reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 35% to 70% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena. This docket size provides a stable view of past performance.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Martinez. 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 Martinez'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 35% approval rate for Joel B. Martinez is based on 111 decisions on record since 2016. The data window for this judge covers the period from January 2016 through September 2016. Because this record is limited to that period, the approval rate remains consistent across that timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Martinez'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 Pasadena hearing office
Joel B. Martinez's most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office, where decisions were recorded through September 2016. This office serves you if you are in California and is part of a broader regional network of hearing offices. With a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pasadena
The Social Security Administration 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 Pasadena, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 35% to 70%. While these figures vary, the requirements for proving your disability remain the same regardless of the judge assigned to your case.
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
Joel B. Martinez has a 35% approval rate on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 35% to 70% range observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Pasadena hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Joel B. Martinez is 35% based on 111 decisions on record between January 2016 and September 2016. Because the data window is limited to this period, the rate is steady. An attorney can help you understand how your evidence fits into these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will be present. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Joel B. Martinez will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and the strength of your testimony. An attorney can help you identify the evidence needed to build a strong case for your hearing.
