Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Harold D. Davis based on 4,055 decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical look at past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Davis is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Davis isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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, Harold D. Davis has issued 4,055 decisions. The yearly approval rate was 55% in 2016 and 2017, 53% in 2018, 68% in 2019, 71% in 2020, 72% in 2021, 67% in 2022, 71% in 2023, 77% in 2024, and 76% in 2025.
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 Fort Smith hearing office
The Fort Smith Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Harold D. Davis as of September 2025. This office maintains a bench of judges who manage the local caseload.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Smith
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Among the 3 judges who decided cases at the Fort Smith office in the most recent SSA file, approval rates on their records since 2016 range from 47% to 55%.
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
Harold D. Davis has a 66% approval rate on his record since 2016. This sits above the 47% to 55% range observed among the 3 judges who decided cases at this office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Harold D. Davis has shifted over time, moving from 55% in 2016 to 76% in 2025. These figures are based on 4,055 total decisions on record. A qualified attorney can help you understand how your case evidence fits into this broader context.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may provide testimony regarding potential work. An attorney can help you prepare for the questions you will face during this process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in your case. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to ensure your claim is as strong as possible.
