Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Barry O'Melinn's 45% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the office rate of 46%, the state rate of 48%, and the national average of 58% for the same period. These figures are derived from a docket of 403 decisions in the last year. This data reflects historical patterns rather than the specific merits of your claim.
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 O'Melinn'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, Barry O'Melinn has issued 3,538 decisions on record. Annual approval rates have fluctuated, starting at 53% in 2016 and reaching 46% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. The most recent 12 months sit slightly below the overall record of 47% since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge O'Melinn'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 NHC Albuquerque hearing office
The NHC Albuquerque is the most recent office on record for Barry O'Melinn as of July 2026. The bench consists of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the office maintained a 46% approval rate. You can see the NHC Albuquerque Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Albuquerque
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 6 judges who decided cases at the NHC Albuquerque in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 42% to 57% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them appearing in the 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 O'Melinn's 45%. All five last decided cases in New Mexico.
- 45% Approval rate, last 12 months Joyce Frost-Wolf
- 43% Approval rate, last 12 months Robert Freedman
- 47% Approval rate, last 12 months Talia Timmins
- 42% Approval rate, last 12 months Deborah J. Van Vleck
- 50% Approval rate, last 12 months Katie H. Pierce
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 O'Melinn 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, Barry O'Melinn's 45% approval rate is within the 42% to 57% range of the 6 judges who decided cases at the NHC Albuquerque in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare for the specific bench in this office.
Barry O'Melinn's approval rate has varied over 3,538 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 53% in 2016, it has shifted to 45% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your case regardless of these 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 for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A judge's approval rate reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide to support your claim. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
