Approval rates
The 42% approval rate for W. Clark reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 32% to 79% range seen among the bench of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in this office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Clark. 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 Clark'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 81 decisions on record for W. Clark since January 2016 show a shift in approval patterns. The approval rate was 59% in 2016 and 26% in 2017. Because each case presents unique medical and vocational factors, these yearly shifts do not necessarily indicate a permanent change in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Clark'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 serves you if you are in Maryland and the surrounding region. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence and work history.
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 the Baltimore hearing office, and their approval rates on record since 2016 vary from 32% to 79%. This variance is common across the national bench.
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
W. Clark has an approval rate of 42% on record since 2016. This sits within the 32% to 79% range of approval rates for the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a change in approval patterns over the recorded window. The approval rate was 59% in 2016 and 26% in 2017. If you are concerned about how these patterns might affect your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific requirements of your claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities, pain levels, and work limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. A judge's rate is only one factor among many, including the quality of your medical documentation and your work history. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.
