Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Alexis Murdock's 70% approval rate since 2016 sits within the range of 18% to 70% established by the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. In the most recent reporting period, the 79% approval rate compares to a 52% office rate, a 56% state rate, and a 58% national rate.
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 Murdock'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 Alexis Murdock has shown an upward trend since 2016. After fluctuating between 58% and 68% in the years following 2016, the rate reached 79% in the latest reporting period. This recent performance represents an increase over the 70% average maintained across the 2,720 decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Murdock'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 San Antonio hearing office
Alexis Murdock's most recent office on record is the San Antonio hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office is staffed by 23 judges whose most recent record is at this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 52%, providing a baseline for the local bench.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. Among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio, 17 decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for these judges vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 70% on their records 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
Alexis Murdock has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the high end of the 18% to 70% range seen among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has trended upward over the 2,720 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 66% in 2016, it reached 79% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases via a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for any judge you might draw.
The 70% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of medical evidence and how it meets SSA requirements. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
