Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 56% approval rate since 2023 is measured against the broader bench at the Alexandria office, where peer approval rates range from 26% to 67%. In the most recent reporting period, the 50% approval rate is compared against the office's 55% rate, the state's 55% rate, and the national 58% average. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your case.
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 Smoke'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 Stephanie Daniels Smoke has varied since February 2023. After a 36% approval rate in 2023, the figures rose to 58% in 2024 and 65% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date period shows a 50% approval rate, reflecting a shift from the previous year's high.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Smoke'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 Alexandria hearing office
The most recent office on record for Stephanie Daniels Smoke is the Alexandria hearing office, which serves you and other claimants across Louisiana. This office maintains a bench of 10 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 55%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Alexandria
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 the Alexandria hearing office. Because approval rates across this bench vary from 26% to 67%, understanding the local landscape is a standard part of case preparation.
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 Smoke has an approval rate of 56% since 2023, which sits within the 26% to 67% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Alexandria. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might impact your specific hearing strategy.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated, moving from 36% in 2023 to 65% in 2025, before settling at 50% in the 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. These shifts are common and often depend on the specific mix of cases and evidence presented. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards this judge expects.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you navigate these questions and present your evidence clearly.
The 56% approval rate on record since 2023 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
