Approval rates
When evaluating your potential outcome, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Fraiser has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 39% over 25,342 decisions, which currently trails the New Orleans office average of 53% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the judge's tenure. 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 Fraiser'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
Over 10 years on the bench, your judge's approval rate has shown periodic fluctuations. While the lifetime average sits at 39%, recent reporting shows a 42% approval rate. Yearly data indicates periods of variance, such as the 43% rate in 2021 compared to the 34% rate in 2022. This pattern reflects the complexity of the cases heard and the evolving nature of disability evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fraiser'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.
Hearing with Judge Fraiser? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans Hearing Office serves a large population across Louisiana, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 53%. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical documentation and work history. You can see the New Orleans Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Fraiser is essentially random. Within the New Orleans office, approval rates across the bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 70% among the 6 judges. This variance highlights why focusing on your own medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the New Orleans Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.