Approval rates
Judge Gavras demonstrates an approval rate that consistently outpaces regional and national benchmarks. In the latest reporting period, this judge approved cases at a rate 17 percentage points higher than the Phoenix North office average and 14 percentage points above the national norm. These statistics are derived from a substantial docket of 6,194 lifetime decisions, providing a stable, data-backed view of past judicial activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Gavras'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 a three-year tenure, the approval trend for Judge Gavras has shown a steady upward trajectory. Starting at 61% in 2016, the rate climbed to 75% in 2017 and reached 80% by 2018. This consistent growth suggests a pattern that has remained stable even as the volume of cases increased. The latest period reflects a continuation of this upward trend, indicating that the judge's approach to evidence evaluation has remained focused and predictable throughout their time on the bench.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gavras'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 Gavras? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Phoenix North hearing office
The Phoenix North Hearing Office serves a large population across Arizona, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 55%, reflecting the complex nature of cases processed in this region. You can expect a rigorous review process where your medical documentation and vocational evidence are critical to a successful outcome. See the Phoenix North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your specific judge assignment is essentially random. Within the Phoenix North office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 72%. Because of this variance, understanding the broader office environment is as important as looking at any single judge. You can find more information on the Phoenix North 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.