Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Mark Triplett has a 43% approval rate on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 54%. This latest figure sits 4 percentage points below the Tacoma office's latest-period rate of 58%. These figures provide context for the judge's decision-making history, but aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than individual hearing outcomes.
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 Triplett'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, Mark Triplett has issued 3,581 decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of lower approval rates between 2017 and 2021, followed by a rise in 2022 and 2023. While the 2024 rate dipped, the 2025 and 2026 figures indicate a return to higher approval levels. This recent activity shows how your judge's decision-making has evolved over the period on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Triplett'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 Tacoma hearing office
Mark Triplett's most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you across Washington and the surrounding region. With 17 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 58%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with 4 of them deciding cases in the latest file. Their since-2016 approval rates range from 30% to 78%.
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 Triplett's 43% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 30% to 78% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation. After a period of lower approval rates from 2017 to 2021, the rate increased in 2022 and 2023, followed by a 2024 dip and a subsequent rise in 2025 and 2026. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 43% approval rate on record since 2016 reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented in your case. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong claim.
