Approval rates
Michael B. Richardson has an approval rate of 58% across 3,409 decisions on record since 2016. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 67%, which is 9 percentage points higher than the San Diego office average of 58%.
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 Richardson'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 January 2016, Michael B. Richardson has issued 3,409 decisions. His approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 47% in 2016 and reaching 74% in 2025, with a 67% approval rate recorded in the partial 2026 fiscal year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Richardson'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 Diego hearing office
Michael B. Richardson's most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, where he has recorded decisions through July 2026. This office hosts 15 judges who manage disability hearings for the region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office. Approval rates for this bench range from 37% to 68% on their since-2016 records.
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
Michael B. Richardson's latest-period approval rate of 67% is 9 percentage points higher than the San Diego office average of 58%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, his approval rate has shifted over time, moving from 47% in 2016 to 74% in 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
The 58% approval rate on record since 2016 reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on your medical evidence and testimony, which an attorney can help you organize.
