Approval rates
Comparing approval rates helps you understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While you have seen an approval rate of 21% across 3,179 decisions since 2016, the latest-period data shows a 14% approval rate, which is 20 percentage points lower than the 34% office-wide average for the same period. These figures provide a statistical baseline, but they do not account for the specific medical evidence in your file.
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
Since 2016, your approval rate with Judge Davis has varied. After a period of higher approval, the rate shifted downward and has remained in a lower range in recent years. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 14%, with a denial rate of 86%. This recent data reflects a continuation of a pattern where approvals are less frequent than in the earliest years of the 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 Colorado Springs hearing office
The Colorado Springs hearing office is the judge's most recent office on record, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 34%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Colorado Springs
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Colorado Springs hearing office, there are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 21% to 74% on their records since 2016.
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 Davis has an approval rate of 21% on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 21% to 74% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Colorado Springs hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated since 2016. While the rate was higher in the record's earliest years, it has trended downward in recent periods, with a 14% approval rate in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are properly presented.
The 21% approval rate on record for Judge Davis since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in any hearing. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the hearing process.
