Approval rates
The 62% approval rate for Howard K. Treblin reflects all decisions on record since 2016. In the latest reporting period, your judge's approval rate was 64%, compared to the 58% average for the San Diego hearing office. These figures reflect past decisions rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
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, Howard K. Treblin has issued 3,299 decisions. Your judge's approval rate has fluctuated over this period, ranging from a high of 74% in 2016 to 37% in 2021, with a 64% rate in the most recent reporting period. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases on the docket.
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
Howard K. Treblin's most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, and their approval rates range from 37% to 68% on their since-2016 records.
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
In the latest reporting period, Howard K. Treblin maintained a 64% approval rate, which is 6 percentage points higher than the 58% average for the San Diego hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Your judge's approval rate has varied over time, starting at 74% in 2016 and reaching 64% in the latest period. These fluctuations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific situation.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have your case ready for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Howard K. Treblin will evaluate whether your condition meets the criteria for disability benefits. An attorney can help you organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
