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    Do not feel as though you have to go through this process on your own. Find out if you qualify to receive benefits now.

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This page shows the disability approval rate of every Social Security administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Sacramento hearing office, using official SSA data for fiscal year 2026 through August 28, 2026. Use it to understand what to expect if your disability hearing has been assigned to one of these judges.

Sacramento hearing office at a glance

  • Office approval rate: 68.6% (higher than the national average of 57.6%)
  • Judges: 8 listed, 8 with decisions this period
  • Decisions issued: 2,090 (1,180 fully favorable, 254 partially favorable, 656 denials)
  • Total dispositions: 2,492 (including 402 dismissals)
  • SSA region: 09

The highest approval rate at this office belongs to Plauche F. Villere (79.9%); the lowest belongs to Laura Speck Havens (42.9%).

Approval rate by judge

Sorted from highest to lowest approval rate. “Difference” compares the judge to the 57.6% national average. Rates for judges with fewer than 50 decisions are marked as a small sample and should be read with caution.

Judge Fully Favorable Partially Favorable Denials Decisions Approval Rate Difference Note
Plauche F. Villere 326 31 90 447 79.9% +22.2 pts
Sigrid Irias 97 16 33 146 77.4% +19.8 pts
David Blume 271 38 121 430 71.9% +14.2 pts
Lisa B. Martin 75 24 44 143 69.2% +11.6 pts
Trevor Skarda 59 20 43 122 64.8% +7.1 pts
Christopher Knowdell 179 62 147 388 62.1% +4.5 pts
Sara Gillis 167 63 170 400 57.5% -0.1 pts
Laura Speck Havens 6 0 8 14 42.9% -14.8 pts Small sample

How to read these numbers

Approval rate = (fully favorable + partially favorable decisions) ÷ total decisions. A fully favorable decision grants benefits from the date the claimant requested; a partially favorable decision grants benefits but with a later onset date or other limitation. Dismissals (for example, when a claimant withdraws or misses the hearing) are not decisions on the merits and are excluded from the rate.

A judge’s past approval rate is not a prediction for any individual case. Outcomes depend primarily on the medical evidence, the claimant’s work history, and how well the case is prepared and presented.

Frequently asked questions

What is the approval rate at the Sacramento Social Security hearing office?

In fiscal year 2026 through August 28, 2026, administrative law judges at the Sacramento hearing office approved 68.6% of the cases they decided (1,180 fully favorable and 254 partially favorable out of 2,090 decisions). The national average is 57.6%.

Which judge at the Sacramento hearing office has the highest approval rate?

Plauche F. Villere had the highest approval rate at 79.9% across 447 decisions.

How many judges work at the Sacramento hearing office?

SSA lists 8 administrative law judges at the Sacramento hearing office, 8 of whom issued decisions during the reporting period.

Where does this data come from?

All figures come from the Social Security Administration's public ALJ Disposition Data report, reporting period ending August 28, 2026. Approval rate is calculated as fully favorable plus partially favorable decisions divided by total decisions; dismissals are excluded.

Source: Social Security Administration, ALJ Disposition Data, reporting period ending August 28, 2026 (report generated 09/22/2026). SSA updates this dataset monthly. Last updated on this site: October 13, 2026.

  • Do You Have
    a Claim?

    Do not feel as though you have to go through this process on your own. Find out if you qualify to receive benefits now.

    About SSD Eligibility
  • Proud Advocates
    for the Disabled

    Your choice in advocacy could be instrumental to the success of your case. Don’t put your financial benefits at risk!

    How We Can Help You
  • No Fees
    Until We Win

    Our ultimate goal is to maximize your approval and minimize any complication. You pay no fees unless we win!

    Get Started Today

Social Security Disability
How Can We Help You?

  • Denied SSD Benefits
  • Disability Hearing
  • Application Process
  • Appealing a Claim
  • Medicaid / Medicare
  • Social Security Disability Benefits
  • Social Security Disability Insurance
  • Supplemental Security Income
  • Child & Adult Child's Disability
  • Veterans Disability
  • SSD & SSI Myths

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