Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While David Foley has an approval rate of 55% across his record since January 2023, his latest-period approval rate is 52%. This sits against an office-wide latest-period rate of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,264 decisions, providing a stable basis for review.
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 Foley'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 trend for David Foley has shifted since January 2023. After an initial approval rate of 68% in 2023, the rate moved to 57% in 2024 and has remained at 52% through 2025 and the partial 2026 fiscal year. This pattern shows a decline from your judge's earlier record, stabilizing in the most recent reporting periods.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Foley'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
The Dallas Downtown hearing office serves you and other claimants across Texas and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
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. Within the Dallas Downtown hearing office, there are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 7 of them having decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 21% to 76%.
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
David Foley's latest-period approval rate of 52% is 6 percentage points lower than the Dallas Downtown office average of 58%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a shift from a 68% approval rate in 2023 to 52% in the most recent reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing.
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 for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure the judge has the most accurate information.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how David Foley will rule on your specific case. The strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor, and an attorney can help you strengthen your file.
