Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 67% approval rate covers all decisions since October 2023, the latest-period data provides a more immediate snapshot. In the most recent reporting period, the judge maintained a 62% approval rate, which is 11 percentage points above the St Louis office average of 51%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a basis for comparison. 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 Davis'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 Alaina Davis has shifted across the 934 decisions on record since October 2023. After an approval rate of 67% in 2024 and 71% in 2025, the fiscal year-to-date rate for 2026 stands at 62%. This recent shift reflects the judge's activity in the latest period compared to the overall average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Davis'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 St Louis hearing office
Alaina Davis's most recent office on record is the St Louis hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Missouri and the surrounding region. The bench consists of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide approval rate for the latest period was 51%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is St Louis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the St Louis office, there are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 13 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 30% to 78% on their respective records. You should prepare for your hearing with the expectation that your case will be evaluated on its own merits.
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
In the latest reporting period, Judge Davis maintained a 62% approval rate, which is 11 percentage points higher than the St Louis office average of 51%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively before this judge.
The approval rate was 67% in 2024 and 71% in 2025, with a 62% rate recorded for the partial 2026 fiscal year. These fluctuations are common and can be influenced by changes in case evidence or legal standards. An attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
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 activities, pain levels, and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
Approval rates are statistical observations of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case.
