Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While Gary Ball holds a 66% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period rate of 64% sits 4 points above the Baltimore office average of 60%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Ball'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Gary Ball has shown fluctuations, moving from 54% in the early part of the record to a peak of 78% in 2024 before settling at 64% in the most recent period. This trend reflects a dynamic approach to the 2,761 decisions on record. While the yearly approval percentages have varied, the judge maintains a consistent presence within the Baltimore office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ball'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office serves you throughout Maryland and the surrounding region. With 26 judges on record since 2016, this office manages a high volume of disability claims with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the Baltimore Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the 26 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the latest period, lifetime approval rates range from 32% to 79%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific bench is useful. Guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Gary Ball has a 66% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the broad range of 32% to 79% seen across the 26 judges at the Baltimore office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the approval rate for Gary Ball has fluctuated over the 2,761 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate reached 78% in 2024, it has since adjusted to 64% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability under SSA rules. An attorney can help you build a strong case tailored to the requirements of the hearing.