Approval rates
The 46% approval rate for Lillian Richter covers all 2,167 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 41% to 89% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albuquerque hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Richter. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Richter'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 Lillian Richter shows a varied trend across the 2,167 decisions on record since 2016. After maintaining an approval rate between 46% and 53% through 2019, the data shows a decline in the following years, reaching 32% in 2022. This pattern reflects historical decision-making over the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Richter'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 Albuquerque hearing office
Lillian Richter's most recent office on record is the Albuquerque hearing office, which serves you across New Mexico. With 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, you can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Albuquerque
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albuquerque hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 41% to 89% on their since-2016 records. Because every judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the office-wide bench is helpful.
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
Lillian Richter has an approval rate of 46% on record since 2016. This falls within the 41% to 89% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Albuquerque hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Lillian Richter has fluctuated. While the rate was 51% in 2016, it reached 32% by 2022 across the 2,167 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you focus on the strength of your medical evidence regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
The 46% approval rate for Lillian Richter is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable outcome. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your specific situation.
