Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Melvin G. Olmscheid's 64% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the Baltimore office's 60%, the state's 56%, and the national average of 58% for the same period. His longer-term record since 2016 shows a 68% approval rate across 3,537 total decisions.
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 Olmscheid'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, Melvin G. Olmscheid has issued 3,537 decisions. His approval rate has fluctuated, reaching a high of 72% in 2020 and a low of 60% in 2016. The most recent 12 months to July 31, 2026, show an approval rate of 64%, which is lower than his overall record of 68% since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Olmscheid'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore office serves claimants across Maryland and the surrounding region. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 8 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file as of July 2026. The office recorded a 60% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the Baltimore bench, with the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 41% to 77% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 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 Olmscheid's 64%. Three of them last decided cases in Maryland. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Philadelphia region.
- 64% Approval rate, last 12 months Gary Ball
- 68% Approval rate, last 12 months Donald K. Neely
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Nelisbeth Ball
- 63% Approval rate, last 12 months Christopher Galloway
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months Hortensia Haaversen
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 Olmscheid 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
Melvin G. Olmscheid's 64% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is higher than the 60% average for the Baltimore office during that same window. Among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 41% to 77%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Melvin G. Olmscheid's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, with an overall record of 68% across 3,537 decisions. His yearly approval rate has moved between 60% and 72% during this time. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding available work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is presented effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary 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's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your evidence before your hearing.
