Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Julicel Sepulveda Anavitarte decided 350 cases, allowing 68% of them. This sits against an office-wide average of 71% and a national average of 58% during that same period. These figures provide statistical context for your case.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Anavitarte'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 September 2016, Julicel Sepulveda Anavitarte has issued 2,868 decisions on record. The approval rate has fluctuated over this period, reaching a high of 75% in 2024 before settling at 66% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While the long-term record since 2016 stands at 66%, the most recent 12 months sit slightly above that historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Anavitarte'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 Juan hearing office
The San Juan Hearing Office serves you across Puerto Rico and is part of the SSA's regional network. As of the most recent data from July 2026, this office maintains a bench of 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a process governed by federal regulations, with an office-wide approval rate of 71% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the San Juan Hearing Office, the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 48% to 84% in their approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Anavitarte's 68%. Two of them last decided cases in Puerto Rico. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's New York region.
- 66% Approval rate, last 12 months Luciannette Planas
- 70% Approval rate, last 12 months Maria E. Quant
- 68% Approval rate, last 12 months Jennifer Gale Smith
- 67% Approval rate, last 12 months Frederick Timm
- 67% Approval rate, last 12 months Sandra M. McKenna
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Anavitarte and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Julicel Sepulveda Anavitarte's 68% approval rate is slightly below the San Juan office average of 71%. Among the 8 judges active in the office's latest file, approval rates range from 48% to 84%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might impact your specific case strategy.
The approval rate has seen variation since 2016, with a 66% rate on record over 2,868 total decisions. While the rate reached 75% in 2024, the most recent 12-month window shows a 68% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical fluctuations.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge who may be assigned to your case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may be present to discuss potential work. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case by gathering the necessary documentation.
