Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 66% approval rate for Janis Estrada reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 21% to 76% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. These figures are based on 906 decisions, providing a statistical baseline for your review.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Estrada. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Estrada'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
The approval rate for Janis Estrada showed movement across the 906 decisions on record since 2016. The rate was 60% in 2016, 73% in 2017, and 63% in 2018. This pattern indicates a period of fluctuation. Because case mix and the specific evidence you present in your hearing can change significantly from year to year, these shifts are common in administrative law dockets.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Estrada'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 Dallas Downtown hearing office
Janis Estrada's most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. This office serves you in the Texas region and maintains a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 76% 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
Janis Estrada has a 66% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 21% to 76% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The approval rate for Janis Estrada has fluctuated over time, moving from 60% in 2016 to 73% in 2017 and 63% in 2018. These variations often reflect changes in the types of cases or the specific evidence provided. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare for any potential outcome is a smart strategy.
The 66% approval rate on record for Janis Estrada is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
