Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2017 is 32%, recent data shows a 29% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This figure sits 26 points below the latest-period office average of 55%. These statistics are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable baseline for understanding historical decision-making patterns.
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 Coburn'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 January 2017, the approval rate for Diana J. Coburn has fluctuated, moving from 36% in 2017 to a low of 23% in 2022 before reaching 29% in the most recent partial fiscal year. With 3,162 total decisions on record, the data indicates a trend that has remained relatively consistent in recent years. The latest-period approval rate of 29% aligns closely with the long-term average, suggesting a continuation of this established pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Coburn'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 Long Beach hearing office
Diana J. Coburn's most recent office on record is the Long Beach hearing office, which serves the Southern California region. This office is part of a broader network of hearing locations, and the bench here includes 10 judges with varying approval patterns. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence, as the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%. For more information, see the Long Beach hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 5 of them having decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. These judges show an approval-rate range from 32% to 76% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Coburn's approval rate of 32% since 2017 falls at the lower end of the range for the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Long Beach, where rates vary from 32% to 76%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The approval rate has seen shifts over the years, starting at 36% in 2017 and reaching 29% in the latest partial fiscal year. While these numbers provide context, they are not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your case. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned to your file.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
The 32% approval rate on record since 2017 reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
