Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the approval rate on record since 2016, which provides a statistical baseline for their decision-making. While the office bench shows a range of outcomes from 32% to 79%, these figures represent historical data rather than a guarantee of future results. By reviewing the 194 decisions on record, you can better understand the context of your upcoming hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cheney. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cheney'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 Clark S. Cheney was 37% across 80 decisions in 2016 and 30% across 171 decisions in 2017. This trend reflects the judge's activity during the recorded window. These patterns help illustrate the judge's historical approach to case evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cheney'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office maintains a bench of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a formal process where evidence quality is the primary driver of the outcome. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, reflecting the local environment for disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the broader office bench provides perspective on the hearing process.
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
Clark S. Cheney has an approval rate of 32% on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the range for the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, where rates vary from 32% to 79%. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Clark S. Cheney was 37% in 2016 and 30% in 2017. This indicates a downward trend during the period of available data. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you review the strength of your medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to focus on building a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear.
The 32% approval rate for Clark S. Cheney is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical documentation and testimony remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
