Approval rates
Laureen Penn has a 45% approval rate across 3,011 decisions on record since 2016. The 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Baltimore range from 40% to 90% in their approval rates. These figures provide a baseline for understanding the judicial landscape, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Penn. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Penn'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 Laureen Penn has fluctuated over the 3,011 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of relative stability, the data shows a notable shift in 2022 and 2023 before returning to levels closer to the long-term average in 2024 and 2025. This pattern reflects how the judge's approach has evolved over the years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Penn'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 Baltimore hearing office
Laureen Penn's most recent office on record is the NHC Baltimore, with decisions there through September 2025. This office serves the Maryland region and maintains a bench of 16 judges. You can see the NHC Baltimore Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Baltimore, and their since-2016 approval rates range from 40% to 90%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the broader office environment is helpful for your preparation.
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
Laureen Penn has an approval rate of 45% across 3,011 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 90% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Laureen Penn has shown variation over time, with a peak of 63% in 2022 and a rate of 44% in 2025. These fluctuations are common and can be influenced by changes in case mix or evidence quality. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong, evidence-based case that can succeed regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you organize your records to ensure your case is presented as clearly as possible.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of how Laureen Penn will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you organize your records to ensure your case is presented as clearly as possible.
