Approval rates
Judge Pardo maintains a lifetime approval rate of 69%, which trends above the Albuquerque Hearing Office latest average of 55%. When compared to the national latest approval rate of 58%, this judge demonstrates a distinct decision pattern. These statistics are derived from 7,138 lifetime decisions, providing a significant sample size for analysis. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Pardo'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
Over a 3-year tenure, Judge Pardo has maintained a steady approval pattern, with annual rates of 68%, 70%, and 67%. This consistency across 7,138 lifetime decisions suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability evidence. The judge remains above the state latest approval rate of 53%. This trend reflects a continuation of a reliable decision-making process throughout the judge's career.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pardo'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.
Hearing with Judge Pardo? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Albuquerque hearing office
The Albuquerque Hearing Office serves a broad population across New Mexico, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a focus on processing complex medical and vocational evidence. You can expect a formal hearing environment where your documentation is critical to the outcome. You can see the Albuquerque Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Albuquerque Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 41% to 69%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the Albuquerque Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.