Approval rates
Judge Davis holds a lifetime approval rate of 61%, a figure derived from 3,919 lifetime decisions. When compared to the most recent reporting period, the judge's performance remains closely aligned with the Portland ME Hearing Office average of 62%. These metrics provide a window into historical decision-making patterns at this office. 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
Over a 2-year tenure, Judge Davis has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 62% in 2016, shifting to 59% in 2017. This movement reflects a stable pattern of adjudication that remains competitive with broader regional benchmarks. Such trends often mirror shifts in case volume or the complexity of evidence presented, rather than fundamental changes in judicial philosophy.
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.
Hearing with Judge Davis? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Portland ME hearing office
The Portland ME Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Maine, managing a diverse caseload typical of the region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an overall approval rate that reflects the local economic and medical landscape. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Portland ME Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Portland ME Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 40% to 75%. Because of this variance, understanding the local landscape is a standard part of your case preparation. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.