Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. We evaluate Kathleen S. Molinar's 64% approval rate since 2016 against the 26% to 67% range observed among peers at the same office over that same period. In the most recent reporting period, this judge maintained a 69% approval rate, which sits 14 points above the Alexandria office average of 55%. These figures rely on a volume of 4,140 decisions on record.
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 Molinar'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 Kathleen S. Molinar has shown movement across the 4,140 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of relative stability, the data shows an uptick in recent years, with 2025 reaching 73% and the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period at 69%. This latest-period performance remains higher than the long-term average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Molinar'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 Alexandria hearing office
The Alexandria hearing office serves you throughout the region. This office has a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and it recorded an office-wide approval rate of 55% during the latest reporting period. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Alexandria
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 26% to 67% since 2016.
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
Kathleen S. Molinar has an approval rate of 64% since 2016, which sits within the 26% to 67% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these patterns.
Yes, the approval rate for Kathleen S. Molinar has fluctuated, starting at 56% in 2016 and reaching 73% in 2025. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 69% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the requirements of any judge assigned to you.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will have the opportunity to explain how your condition prevents you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 64% approval rate for Kathleen S. Molinar is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you build a strong case.
