Approval rates
The approval rates for Stacey L. Foster are calculated based on 3,554 decisions on record since September 2016. When comparing the judge's latest-period approval rate of 61% against the Louisville office average of 53%, the judge sits 8 percentage points higher. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided at this office.
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 Foster'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 Stacey L. Foster has shown variation across the 3,554 decisions on record since 2016. The most recent data shows a 61% approval rate for the latest reporting period. This figure is higher than the judge's overall average of 57%, reflecting the ongoing nature of disability adjudication where case mix and evidence quality influence yearly trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Foster'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 Louisville hearing office
The Louisville hearing office is the most recent office on record for Stacey L. Foster, with activity recorded through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges who handle a variety of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 53%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your case is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Louisville hearing office. Approval rates among this bench range from 43% to 75% 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
Stacey L. Foster's latest-period approval rate of 61% is 8 percentage points higher than the Louisville office's latest-period average of 53%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Stacey L. Foster has fluctuated over the years, starting at 100% in 2016 and settling at 61% in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any judge assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Stacey L. Foster has an approval rate of 57% since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively for your hearing.
