Approval rates
Comparing a judge's record to the broader bench provides context for your upcoming hearing. At the NHC Baltimore office, lifetime approval rates among the 14 judges on record range from 40% to 90%. With 1,717 lifetime decisions, the data for Judge Bryant offers a look at past outcomes. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bryant. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bryant'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 record for Judge Bryant spans from 2016 to 2020, covering 1,717 lifetime decisions. Throughout this period, the approval rate has remained consistent, reflecting a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim. Understanding this history helps you see how your case fits into the broader context of the hearing office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bryant'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the NHC Baltimore hearing office
The NHC Baltimore hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Maryland and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges on record, each contributing to the overall volume of disability hearings. You can expect a formal process where your evidence quality is the primary driver of the outcome. You can see the NHC 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. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016. Because approval rates across this bench vary from 40% to 90%, it is important to understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your case.
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 Bryant maintains an 83% lifetime approval rate, which sits toward the higher end of the 40% to 90% range seen among the 14 judges at the NHC Baltimore office. While this rate is higher than many peers, your case is unique and depends on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the requirements of this judge's bench.
The data from 2016 to 2020 shows that Judge Bryant's approval rate has held steady. While there is natural variance in any judge's docket, the lifetime average of 83% across 1,717 decisions remains the most reliable indicator of the judge's historical pattern. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency and impartiality. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to focus on building the strongest possible case with the help of an experienced attorney.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. While Judge Bryant's 83% lifetime rate is a helpful data point, your success ultimately depends on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing by ensuring your medical records are complete and well-organized.