Approval rates
The approval rate for Denzel R. Busick is based on 3,954 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. This figure represents the total volume of cases decided during that period. When evaluating this rate, you can compare it against the broader bench of judges who have decided cases at the Fargo office.
Judge Busick is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Busick isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Busick'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, Denzel R. Busick has maintained an approval pattern that started at 75% in 2016 and reached 73% in 2023. The data shows a period of fluctuation between 2020 and 2022, where approval rates reached a low of 63% before returning to 73% in the final year of the record. These 3,954 decisions reflect the judge's activity over the seven-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Busick'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 Fargo hearing office
The Fargo Hearing Office serves you across North Dakota and the surrounding region. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with the office's activity documented through September 2023. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of evidence remains the primary factor in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fargo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the office's bench, with the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 51% to 64% on their since-2016 records. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 4 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Denzel R. Busick has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016. In comparison, the 4 judges who decided cases at the Fargo office in SSA's latest file range from 51% to 64% on their since-2016 records. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case strategy.
The approval rate for Denzel R. Busick has shown some variance, moving from 75% in 2016 to 73% in 2023. While the rate dipped to 63% in 2022, the most recent year of data shows a return to higher approval levels. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of how a judge will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends on the unique medical evidence and testimony you provide. Working with an attorney can help ensure your case is presented as effectively as possible.
