Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Trevor Skarda's 69% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the Stockton office rate of 43%, the California state average of 60%, and the national average of 58% for the same period. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing statistical confidence in the data.
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 Skarda'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 2016, Trevor Skarda has issued 3,947 decisions with an overall approval rate of 57%. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 58% in 2016 to a low of 48% in 2018 before trending upward in recent years. The most recent 12 months sit above the record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Skarda'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 Stockton hearing office
Trevor Skarda's most recent office on record is Stockton, which serves the California region. This office has 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and it recorded an approval rate of 43% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. You can find more information on the Stockton hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 24% to 69% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 4 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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 Skarda's 69%. All five last decided cases in California.
- 69% Approval rate, last 12 months Robin Rosenbluth
- 69% Approval rate, last 12 months Michael B. Richardson
- 69% Approval rate, last 12 months Lisa B. Martin
- 68% Approval rate, last 12 months Ghermann Magana
- 68% Approval rate, last 12 months Cynthia Floyd
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 Skarda 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, Trevor Skarda's 69% approval rate is higher than the 43% average for the Stockton Hearing Office. The 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 24% to 69% over that same window. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Trevor Skarda's approval rate has fluctuated over his time on record since 2016, starting at 58% and reaching 69% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. While these trends provide historical context, they do not dictate the outcome of your specific claim. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of the judge assigned, an attorney can help you prepare your case for a hearing.
A judge's approval rate reflects their history of past decisions, not a prediction for your individual hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for review.
