Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 75% approval rate for David R. Mazzi reflects his total record since 2016, which you can measure against the 26% to 84% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from thousands of cases.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mazzi. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mazzi'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 David R. Mazzi shows a shift over the 2,300 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of higher approval rates between 2016 and 2018, the data indicates a decline in the approval percentage through 2022. This pattern suggests that recent decisions have diverged from the earlier average. Such trends can be influenced by changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mazzi'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 Oakland hearing office
David R. Mazzi's most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office, which serves the California region. This office hosts a bench of 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where the judge reviews your medical records and testimony to determine your eligibility.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 26% to 84% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the bench as a whole is helpful.
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
David R. Mazzi has an approval rate of 75% across 2,300 decisions on record since 2016. This places him within the 26% to 84% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval patterns for David R. Mazzi. While his approval rate was 77% in 2016, it reached 84% in 2018 before trending to 58% in 2022. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy in light of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will participate. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. While David R. Mazzi has a 75% approval rate on record since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence meets the necessary standards.
