Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. Mark M. Swayze's 27% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 18% to 70% range observed among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. In the most recent reporting period, his 34% approval rate compares to the 52% office average, 56% state average, and 58% national average. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable view of past activity.
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 Swayze'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 record for Mark M. Swayze spans from January 2016 through July 2026, covering 3,781 total decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of decline followed by recent fluctuations, with the latest period showing a 34% approval rate. This recent figure represents a shift from the lower rates seen in 2022 and 2023.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Swayze'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 Antonio hearing office
Mark M. Swayze's most recent office on record is the San Antonio hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 23 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the San Antonio hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio, and 17 of them decided cases here in the latest SSA file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 18% to 70%.
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
Mark M. Swayze's 27% approval rate since 2016 is situated within the 18% to 70% range of the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this office.
Your judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 40% in 2016 and reaching 34% in the most recent partial period of 2026. These shifts are common in SSDI dockets and may reflect changes in case complexity. An attorney can help you prepare for these variations.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making your assignment process random.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
The 27% approval rate on record is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it aligns with SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
