Approval rates
J. Leland Bentley has an approval rate of 50% on his record since 2018. This figure is based on 3,044 decisions. The 3 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mcalester office range from 36% to 50% on their records since 2016. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting your individual outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bentley. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bentley'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 J. Leland Bentley has fluctuated over the years. Since 2018, your yearly approval rate has moved between a low of 44% in 2020 and a high of 57% in 2022. With 3,044 total decisions on record, the data reflects a significant volume of cases. The 2025 rate of 56% shows a return to higher approval levels compared to the 2024 period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bentley'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mcalester
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Mcalester office, there are 3 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. These judges show an approval-rate range of 36% to 50% on their records since 2016.
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
J. Leland Bentley is at the higher end of the approval-rate range for the Mcalester office, which spans from 36% to 50% for judges with records since 2016. While this 50% rate is notable, every case is unique. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best suit this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for J. Leland Bentley has varied over time. It reached 51% in 2018 and saw a peak of 57% in 2022, before settling at 56% in 2025. These shifts are common in SSDI dockets, and an attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using an automated workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome with the help of a qualified attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will participate. Having an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
The 50% approval rate for J. Leland Bentley is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. A judge's rate is only one factor among many, including the strength of your medical documentation and your work history. An attorney can help you build a case that addresses the specific requirements of your hearing.
