Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers can provide helpful context for your hearing. The 45% approval rate for L. Kalei Fong is based on 720 decisions on record since 2016, which compares to the 39% to 80% range observed among other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento. These figures rely on a significant volume of cases to ensure statistical confidence. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Fong. 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 Fong'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 L. Kalei Fong shows variation across the 720 decisions on record since 2016. The approval rate was 38% in 2016, 50% in 2017, and 45% in 2018. This pattern demonstrates that the judge's decision-making has shifted over the recorded window. These fluctuations are common and often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented during hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fong'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 Sacramento hearing office
The Sacramento hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region and maintains a bench of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. While the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 68%, individual outcomes depend heavily on the specific facts and medical documentation of your case.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento, with approval rates ranging from 39% to 80% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the broader office environment is useful.
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
L. Kalei Fong has an approval rate of 45% based on 720 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 39% to 80% range of approval rates for the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of 38% in 2016, 50% in 2017, and 45% in 2018. These shifts are based on a total of 720 decisions on record. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
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 experienced attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
A 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 testimony is clear and consistent.
The 45% approval rate for L. Kalei Fong represents past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your medical evidence before your hearing date.
