Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your hearing. The approval rate for Karl Alexander is based on 549 decisions on record since 2016. When compared to the 21% to 67% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown, you can see the variance that exists within the same office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Alexander. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Alexander'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
The approval rate for Karl Alexander shows an upward trend across the data window of January 2016 to September 2018. Starting at 43% in 2016, the rate rose to 48% in 2017 and reached 59% in 2018. With 549 total decisions on record, this shift indicates a change in outcomes over the three-year period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Alexander'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 Morgantown hearing office
Karl Alexander's most recent SSA record (September 2018) is at the Morgantown hearing office in West Virginia. This office includes a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in the decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 67% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge maintains their own approach to evidence, the specific judge you draw matters.
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
Karl Alexander has an approval rate of 48% based on 549 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 21% to 67% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. The approval rate was 43% in 2016, 48% in 2017, and 59% in 2018. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare for any outcome is recommended.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. It is your opportunity to explain how your condition prevents you from working. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
The 48% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your specific claim.
