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Updated June 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Hockensmith, Mark

SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE · primary of 2 offices Trending up

+18.8 pts vs national average

0.0%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge76.6%
SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE60.6%
National avg57.8%

Figures below are for SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE, this judge’s busiest office. They also have records at 1 other office (DAYTON).

Total decisions

154

Fully favorable

90

58.4%

Partially favorable

28

18.2%

Denials

36

23.4%

Total dispositions

253

Dismissals

99

39.1%

Awards

118

3-year trend

Rising

FY2025 decision breakdown

Fully fav.
Partial
Denied
Fully fav. 58.4%Partially fav. 18.2%Denied 23.4%

Approval rate history

FY2015
44.9%138 dec
FY2016
38.9%414 dec
FY2017
50.3%342 dec
FY2018
40.9%264 dec
FY2018
57.1%84 dec
FY2018
66.7%3 dec
FY2019
50.0%28 dec
FY2019
100.0%1 dec
FY2019
41.0%95 dec
FY2019
100.0%2 dec
FY2019
50.0%2 dec
FY2019
42.9%7 dec
FY2019
40.9%22 dec
FY2019
66.7%3 dec
FY2019
40.0%5 dec
FY2019
66.7%3 dec
FY2019
100.0%7 dec
FY2019
47.1%187 dec
FY2019
30.0%10 dec
FY2019
0.0%4 dec
FY2019
66.7%3 dec
FY2020
60.0%5 dec
FY2020
0.0%1 dec
FY2020
55.5%328 dec
FY2020
80.0%5 dec
FY2020
66.7%3 dec
FY2020
20.0%5 dec
FY2020
35.7%14 dec
FY2020
0.0%1 dec
FY2020
100.0%2 dec
FY2021
58.5%164 dec
FY2021
80.0%5 dec
FY2021
66.4%113 dec
FY2022
0.0%0 dec
FY2022
59.1%242 dec
FY2023
0.0%0 dec
FY2023
62.9%175 dec
FY2024
71.0%138 dec
Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at SPECIAL REVIEW CADRE (20)

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.