Approval rates
In the most recent reporting period, Judge Romeo maintained an approval rate of 52%, which is 10 percentage points below the national average of 58%. This data is drawn from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at his decision-making history over his 10-year tenure. Comparing these figures to the Honolulu Hearing Office average of 68% helps you understand the local context of your upcoming 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 Romeo'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 his 10 years on the bench, Judge Romeo has seen his approval rate fluctuate, reaching a low of 37% in 2021 before trending to 52% in the most recent period. With 17,913 lifetime decisions, his pattern shows a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. The recent stabilization of his approval rate suggests a steady application of Social Security Administration guidelines.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Romeo'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 Romeo? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Honolulu hearing office
The Honolulu Hearing Office serves you throughout Hawaii, managing a high volume of cases with a diverse bench of judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 68%, reflecting regional trends in disability adjudication. You can expect a professional environment where the focus remains on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can visit the Honolulu Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Honolulu Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Romeo is random. Across the office's bench of 5 ALJs, lifetime approval rates range from 48% to 82%. This variance highlights why you should focus on the strength of your own medical records regardless of who presides over your hearing.
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.