Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 50% approval rate for Jude B. Mulvey covers the entire record since 2017, the latest-period data shows a 54% approval rate. This latest figure sits 7 percentage points below the Albany office average of 61% and 4 points below the national average of 58%. These metrics provide a baseline for understanding recent activity.
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 Mulvey'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 Jude B. Mulvey has fluctuated since 2017. After reaching 67% in 2018, the annual approval rate trended downward to 30% in 2021 before climbing to 54% in the most recent period. This shift indicates that your hearing may be subject to the judge's more recent decision-making approach.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mulvey'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 Albany hearing office
Jude B. Mulvey's most recent office on record is the Albany hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 61%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albany
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albany office, and 8 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 40% to 81% on their records.
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
Jude B. Mulvey's latest-period approval rate of 54% is 7 percentage points lower than the Albany office average of 61%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case specifically for the evidence requirements this judge often emphasizes.
Yes, the approval rate for Jude B. Mulvey has seen significant variation. After an initial 67% approval rate in 2018, the rate declined to a low of 30% in 2021 before rising to 54% in 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical documentation.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Albany office. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is ultimately assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a 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 evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your limitations.
The 50% approval rate for Jude B. Mulvey 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 of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case by ensuring your records are complete and persuasive.
