Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Richardson, Michael B.

SAN DIEGOCalifornia Trending up

+9.1 pts vs national average

66.8%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge66.8%

SAN DIEGO62.2%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

247

Fully favorable

155

62.8%

Partially favorable

4.0%

Denials

33.2%

Total dispositions

348

Dismissals

101

29.0%

Awards

165

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Denied

Fully fav. 62.8%Partially fav. 4.0%Denied 33.2%

Approval rate history

FY2015

54.5%11 dec

FY2016

46.9%309 dec

FY2017

45.4%348 dec

FY2018

47.4%380 dec

FY2019

49.2%417 dec

FY2020

55.3%338 dec

FY2021

62.1%322 dec

FY2022

66.4%238 dec

FY2023

66.5%245 dec

FY2024

73.4%305 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at SAN DIEGO (9)

Suing, Timothy
22 dec77.3%
Benjamin, Daniel
44 dec68.2%
Arno, Josephine
220 dec67.7%
Iafe, Robert
265 dec66.0%
Treblin, Howard K.
14 dec64.3%
Elias, Yasmin
51 dec58.8%
Tracy, Joel
286 dec55.9%
Messer, Kevin
214 dec55.1%
Verne, Andrew
288 dec41.3%

Judges in California with the most decisions

Villere, Plauche F.
SACRAMENTO420 dec
Lacy, David
PASADENA396 dec
Magana, Ghermann
PASADENA382 dec
Blume, David
SACRAMENTO378 dec
Radensky, Michael
ORANGE371 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.