Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Misenti's 24% approval rate is measured against the Stockton office's 43%, the California state rate of 60%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a statistical baseline for the Stockton office.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Misenti'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
Since 2016, Judge Misenti has issued 3,502 decisions. The approval rate on record since 2016 is 29%, which differs from the 24% approval rate observed over the most recent 12-month window. Yearly approval trends have fluctuated over this period, with the most recent 12 months sitting below the record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Misenti'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 Stockton hearing office
The Stockton Hearing Office serves you in California and the surrounding region. It is the most recent office on record for Judge Misenti as of July 2026. The office maintains a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process at this facility.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 24% to 69% over the 12-month window. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 4 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Misenti's 24%. One of them last decided cases in California. With too few close matches there, the rest come from other regions.
- 24% Approval rate, last 12 months Melinda Yurich
- 24% Approval rate, last 12 months Peter R. Lee
- 24% Approval rate, last 12 months Kevin T. Alexander
- 23% Approval rate, last 12 months Richard E. Guida
- 25% Approval rate, last 12 months Thomas Cheffins
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Misenti and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Misenti's 24% approval rate is at the lower end of the 24% to 69% range observed among the 4 judges who decided cases at the Stockton office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Judge Misenti has an approval rate of 29% across 3,502 decisions on record since 2016. This historical average is higher than the 24% approval rate recorded over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your medical conditions and your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the hearing process.
