Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. The 64% approval rate for Don Curdie reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 27% to 66% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Curdie. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Curdie'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 Don Curdie has shown variation across the 1,787 decisions on record since 2016. After an approval rate of 63% in 2016, the data shows fluctuations, including 56% in 2017, 74% in 2018, 64% in 2019, and 67% in 2020. This pattern indicates that the approach to evidence and case requirements has evolved over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Curdie'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 Little Rock hearing office
Don Curdie's most recent office on record is the Little Rock hearing office, with decisions there through September 2020. This office maintains a bench of 16 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 27% to 66% on their since-2016 records. 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
Don Curdie's 64% approval rate on record since 2016 sits toward the higher end of the 27% to 66% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the record window, starting at 63% in 2016 and reaching 67% by 2020. These variations are common as case mixes and evidence standards shift over time. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A 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 limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your condition.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. While Don Curdie has a 64% approval rate on record since 2016, your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
