Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While Bradley L. Davis has a 32% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period approval rate is 31%. This compares to an office-wide latest-period rate of 43%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 4,165 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation. 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 record for Bradley L. Davis has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching 37% in 2021, the rate saw a decline to 25% in 2022 before settling at 31% in the latest period. This pattern suggests that while the judge's approach remains consistent, external factors such as case complexity or evidence quality often influence yearly outcomes.
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 Little Rock hearing office
The Little Rock hearing office serves claimants throughout Arkansas, operating under the broader SSA regional structure. The office maintains a bench of 16 judges on record, with a latest-period office-wide approval rate of 43%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. For more information, see the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/little-rock-AR Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges on record at this office since 2016, 8 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, with a lifetime range spanning from 27% to 66%.
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
Bradley L. Davis has a 32% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 27% to 66% range observed across the 16 judges on record at the Little Rock office. Because each judge has a unique approach to weighing evidence, an attorney can help you prepare a strategy tailored to this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Bradley L. Davis has shifted over the years, moving from 29% in 2016 to a high of 37% in 2021 and settling at 31% in the latest reporting period. These variations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history by the judge or a vocational expert. Having an attorney present can help you navigate these questions and ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Bradley L. Davis has a 32% lifetime approval rate, your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to meet the Social Security Administration requirements.