Approval rates
The 62% approval rate for Carolyn Cohn-Morros reflects performance across 552 decisions on record since 2017. This figure sits within the 19% to 68% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cohn-Morros. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cohn-Morros'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 Carolyn Cohn-Morros has remained steady across 552 decisions on record since 2017. Yearly data shows an approval rate of 65% in 2017, 61% in 2018, and 63% in 2019. This consistency indicates a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cohn-Morros'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 Orange hearing office
The Orange hearing office is the most recent office on record for 12 judges. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can expect a formal hearing process where your medical documentation and vocational testimony are central to the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orange
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 19% to 68% on their since-2016 records. Because assignment is outside of your control, the best approach is to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Carolyn Cohn-Morros has a 62% approval rate on record since 2017. This falls within the 19% to 68% range of approval rates for the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Carolyn Cohn-Morros has remained steady, moving from 65% in 2017 to 63% in 2019. This consistency indicates a stable decision-making pattern over the 552 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from vocational or medical experts. The judge will ask questions to determine if your condition meets the criteria for disability benefits. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your individual hearing. Your specific medical evidence and how it aligns with SSA regulations are the most important factors in your case. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and build a stronger case for your hearing.
