Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history against broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Curdie maintains a lifetime approval rate of 66% based on 11,110 lifetime decisions, which stands in contrast to the current 41% approval rate at the Little Rock Hearing Office and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from five years of judicial activity. 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 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
Over his five-year tenure, Judge Curdie has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. His approval rates have fluctuated, peaking at 79% in 2018 before stabilizing near 67% in the most recent reporting period. This indicates a judge who evaluates evidence within a steady framework. The recent data suggests a continuation of this stable pattern, reflecting how he balances the requirements of the Social Security Act against the specific medical evidence you present in your case.
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.
Hearing with Judge Curdie? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Little Rock hearing office
The Little Rock Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Arkansas, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With six judges on the bench, the office currently reports an approval rate of 41%, which is lower than the state average of 46%. If you are appearing here, be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Little Rock Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the six judges at the Little Rock Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 27% to 66%. This variance underscores why focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence is the most effective strategy. You can find more information on the Little Rock 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.