Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While Mark Yasutomi maintains a 67% approval rate over his total record since 2023, his latest-period performance shows a 70% approval rate, which sits 2 points above the Honolulu office average of 68%. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,082 decisions. 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 Yasutomi'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 January 2023, Mark Yasutomi has presided over 1,082 decisions. His yearly trend shows an approval rate of 75% in 2023, 64% in 2024, 65% in 2025, and 68% in 2026 fiscal year to date. This recent shift suggests a stabilization in his decision-making pattern compared to the previous two years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yasutomi'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 Honolulu hearing office
Mark Yasutomi's most recent office on record is the Honolulu hearing office, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves claimants across Hawaii and the Pacific region. With a bench of 4 judges and an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 68%, you can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Honolulu
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Honolulu office, there are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this bench range from 61% to 83% on their records since 2016. 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
Mark Yasutomi's latest-period approval rate of 70% is 2 points higher than the Honolulu office average of 68%. While he is one of 4 judges associated with this office, individual approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 61% to 83% across the bench. An attorney can help you understand how these variations might influence your case strategy.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. After an approval rate of 75% in 2023, the figures were 64% in 2024 and 65% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date data shows a rate of 68%. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends relate to the specific evidence in your claim.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm designed to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why it is important to be prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of a hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
An approval rate of 67% since 2023 indicates how Mark Yasutomi has ruled in past cases, but it does not predict the outcome of your hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well your claim is presented. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
