Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to regional and national benchmarks provides context for your hearing. Judge Colpitts currently maintains an approval rate 22 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 11,237 lifetime decisions, offering a robust data set for analysis. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Colpitts'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
Over his 9 years on the bench, Judge Colpitts has maintained a high approval rate, peaking at 88% in 2022. While the rate saw a dip to 72% in 2023, the most recent data shows a return to 78% in 2024. This trend indicates a generally consistent approach to evidence evaluation throughout his tenure. The recent shift in percentages may reflect changes in the local case mix or the specific nature of the medical evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Colpitts'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.
Hearing with Judge Colpitts? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Las Vegas hearing office
The Las Vegas Hearing Office serves a diverse population across Nevada, managing a significant volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office handles cases that require careful navigation of Social Security Administration regulations. The office-wide latest approval rate currently sits at 60%. You can see the Las Vegas Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Las Vegas Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 35% to 80%. Because of this variance, understanding the local environment is helpful for your preparation. You can find more information on the Las Vegas Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.