Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Bach, Laura

HOUSTON WESTTexas Stable

+8.6 pts vs national average

66.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge66.3%

HOUSTON WEST55.2%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

359

Fully favorable

174

48.5%

Partially favorable

17.8%

Denials

121

33.7%

Total dispositions

429

Dismissals

16.3%

Awards

238

3-year trend

Stable

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 48.5%Partially fav. 17.8%Denied 33.7%

Approval rate history

FY2016

71.4%7 dec

FY2017

64.5%256 dec

FY2018

57.8%453 dec

FY2019

61.5%499 dec

FY2020

72.5%491 dec

FY2021

64.3%403 dec

FY2022

69.3%306 dec

FY2023

70.0%230 dec

FY2024

73.7%342 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at HOUSTON WEST (11)

Strong, Helen F
243 dec84.8%
Suing, Timothy
22 dec77.3%
Burdette, Robert
370 dec66.2%
Wyatt, Kimberly O.
162 dec56.8%
Eason, Kimani R
355 dec56.6%
Gilbert, Richard A
383 dec52.7%
Mendola, Mark
200 dec51.0%
Boyle, Solomon
252 dec48.8%
Bennett, Vincent
280 dec36.8%
Beers, Caroline
345 dec33.3%
Matthews, Kelly
270 dec31.9%

Judges in Texas with the most decisions

Stubblefield, Ross
HOUSTON NORTH588 dec
Simmons, D'Lisa
HOUSTON NORTH477 dec
Helget, Thomas J
HOUSTON NORTH458 dec
Patel, Hiral D.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY TX427 dec
Gutierrez, David
HOUSTON NORTH424 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.