Approval rates
Comparing your judge's performance against the broader bench helps you understand the context of your hearing. The 40% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a baseline for his decision-making history, which sits within the 38% to 85% range observed among other judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office. These figures rely on a volume of 3,269 decisions on record.
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 Dowling'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, the approval rate for John M. Dowling has fluctuated, reaching 45% in 2018 before moving to 35% in 2024. With 3,269 total decisions on record, the data shows a pattern of variability. The latest period shows a 0% approval rate based on a single decision, which is a partial fiscal year figure and does not represent a long-term shift.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dowling'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 New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans hearing office is the most recent office on record for 17 judges, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 49%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Orleans
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office, with 6 of them having decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 38% to 85% on their since-2016 records.
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
John M. Dowling has an approval rate of 40% on record since 2016. This sits within the 38% to 85% range of approval rates for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for John M. Dowling has shown annual variation, moving from 33% in 2016 to 45% in 2018, and most recently 35% in 2024. These fluctuations are common in SSDI dockets. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong, evidence-based case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. While John M. Dowling has a 40% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you determine if your case meets the necessary criteria for approval.
