Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both lifetime records and recent trends. Judge Treblin's lifetime approval rate of 62% sits within the 37% to 68% range observed among all judges at the San Diego office. In the most recent reporting period, his 64% approval rate outperformed the office-wide average of 58%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Treblin'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, your judge's approval rate has shown notable variance. After a period of higher approvals in the early years, the rate declined before beginning a recovery trend in recent years. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward movement, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity or the quality of evidence presented. This pattern highlights the importance of building a robust medical record regardless of historical trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Treblin'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 Diego hearing office
The San Diego hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, operating as a key venue for disability adjudications in California. The office maintains a diverse bench of 15 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 58%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on the specific medical and vocational evidence supporting your claim. You can see the San Diego Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The San Diego hearing office currently has 15 judges on record since 2016, with 5 judges reporting activity in the latest period. Because the Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, you cannot choose your judge. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, ranging from 37% to 68% on a lifetime basis. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Judge Treblin's lifetime approval rate of 62% is positioned within the broader office range of 37% to 68%. In the latest reporting period, he approved cases at a rate 6 percentage points higher than the San Diego office average. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific office.
Yes, the data shows a fluctuating trend. After maintaining higher approval rates through 2020, the rate shifted in 2021 before trending upward again in 2024 and 2025. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the current evidentiary standards of the court.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random, workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your testimony is consistent with your medical records.
A judge's approval rate is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Judge Treblin has approved 2,030 cases out of 3,299 decisions, your outcome depends on the unique medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence to improve your chances.