Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 61% approval rate covers all decisions since 2016, the latest-period figures provide a snapshot of recent activity. In the most recent reporting period, Kenton W. Fulton maintained a 70% approval rate, which is 12 points higher than the national average of 58%. These figures rely on a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis.
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 Fulton'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
Kenton W. Fulton has issued 3,076 decisions on record since 2016. The yearly trend shows a fluctuating pattern, with approval rates moving from 59% in 2016 to 70% in 2026. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 70% approval rate, suggesting recent decisions remain consistent with this upward trend. This latest period reflects a continuation of the patterns observed in recent years, though each case remains unique.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fulton'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
Kenton W. Fulton's most recent office on record is Oklahoma City, which serves claimants across Oklahoma. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges, reflecting a diverse range of decision-making patterns. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 71%, providing context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 45% to 85% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Kenton W. Fulton's 61% approval rate since 2016 sits within the range of 45% to 85% observed across the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The approval rate for Kenton W. Fulton has shown variation, starting at 59% in 2016 and reaching 70% in the most recent partial year of 2026. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked about your daily activities, pain levels, and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Kenton W. Fulton has a 61% approval rate since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify the specific evidence needed to support your claim.
