Approval rates
Comparing Judge Brock's performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While the judge maintains a 58% lifetime approval rate, the most recent reporting period shows a 62% approval rate. This latest figure compares favorably to the Louisville office's 53% rate, the Kentucky state average of 51%, and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on a docket of 3,680 lifetime decisions.
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 Brock'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 2017, Judge Brock has maintained a consistent pattern of approvals. While the rate fluctuated in the early years of this data window, the trend has remained steady, with the most recent period showing a 62% approval rate. This latest performance reflects a stable decision-making pattern across 3,680 lifetime decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brock'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 Louisville hearing office
The Louisville hearing office serves you throughout Kentucky and the surrounding region. With 13 judges on record, the office handles a high volume of disability claims with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 53%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary driver of the decision. You can see the Louisville 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. The Louisville office has 13 judges on record since 2016, 7 of whom reported in the latest period. Across this bench, lifetime approval rates range from 43% to 75%.
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
Judge Brock's latest-period approval rate of 62% is 9 percentage points higher than the Louisville office's latest-period average of 53%. While this provides context, your specific case outcome depends on your medical evidence. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of Judge Brock's courtroom.
Judge Brock's approval rate has remained relatively steady over the 3,680 decisions on record since 2017. While there have been minor annual fluctuations, the judge's recent 62% approval rate is consistent with the long-term pattern. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have an attorney help you prepare a strong case that meets the evidentiary standards for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Judge Brock has a 58% lifetime approval rate, your success depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully developed before your hearing date.