Approval rates
The approval rates for Tom Duann reflect a significant volume of cases heard since 2016. When comparing his latest-period performance to the broader bench, he sits 8 percentage points above the Norwalk office average, 14 points above the state average, and 17 points above the national average. These figures are based on the most recent reporting period to ensure a like-for-like comparison. 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 Duann'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 record for Tom Duann has shown a steady upward trend. After starting at 60% in 2016, the rate has gradually increased, reaching 75% in the most recent reporting period. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over his 4,331 lifetime decisions. The recent uptick in approvals reflects a continuation of this steady pattern rather than a sudden shift in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Duann'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 Norwalk hearing office
The Norwalk hearing office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of experienced ALJs. The office currently reports a latest-period approval rate of 67%. You should focus on organizing medical documentation that directly addresses the criteria in 20 CFR Part 404. You can see the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/norwalk-CA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 7 judges on record at the Norwalk office since 2016, 4 of whom reported in the latest period. Lifetime approval rates across this bench range from 50% to 78%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Tom Duann currently holds a latest-period approval rate that is 8 percentage points higher than the Norwalk office average. While this is a useful data point, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence in your file. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards required by this judge.
Yes, the data shows a steady trend in approval rates for Tom Duann since 2016. His rate has moved from 60% in his early record to 75% in the most recent period. If you are concerned about how this trend might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you review your case strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on thousands of past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. Tom Duann has decided 4,331 cases since 2016, providing a stable record of his decision-making patterns. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical conditions align with the evidence requirements for this judge.