Approval rates
Judge Chau's lifetime approval rate of 66% sits within the 35% to 70% range observed across the Pasadena bench. In the most recent reporting period, his 74% approval rate outperformed the office average of 67%, the state average of 61%, and the national average of 58%.
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 Chau'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, Judge Chau has issued 2,541 decisions. His approval rate has trended upward over the last decade, moving from 53% in 2016 to 74% in the most recent reporting period. This record reflects his consistent approach to evaluating evidence in disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Chau'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 Pasadena hearing office
The Pasadena hearing office serves as a hub for Social Security disability hearings in California. The office bench consists of 11 judges on record, maintaining an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 67%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 11 judges on record at this office since 2016. With lifetime approval rates varying from 35% to 70% across the bench, the specific judge you draw can influence the context of your hearing.
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 Chau's lifetime approval rate of 66% is at the higher end of the 35% to 70% range seen among the 11 judges on record at the Pasadena office. While he has performed above the office's latest-period average of 67%, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, Judge Chau's approval rate has trended upward since 2016, moving from 53% in his early record to 74% in the most recent reporting period. This pattern reflects his consistent evaluation of claims over 2,541 total decisions. If you are concerned about how these trends affect your case, an attorney can help you review your evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency and fairness. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.