Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data sets. David R. Gutierrez maintains a 64% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the top of the 34% to 64% range observed among his peers at the Houston North office. In the most recent reporting period, he approved 71% of cases, which is 15 points higher than the office-wide latest-period average of 56%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your 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 Gutierrez'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 record for David R. Gutierrez spans 5,319 decisions starting in 2016. His approval trend shows a notable shift, moving from the low 50% range in his early years on record to a higher, more consistent approval pattern starting in 2020. While his latest-period approval rate of 71% remains elevated compared to his historical average, it reflects a continuation of the steady, higher-approval pattern established over the last several years. This recent trend may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gutierrez'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 Houston North hearing office
The Houston North hearing office serves you across the Texas region. It maintains a bench of 12 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Houston North hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 9 of whom reported data in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 64% on a lifetime basis. You can review the full office roster on the Houston North hearing office page.
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
David R. Gutierrez has a 64% lifetime approval rate, which is at the high end of the 34% to 64% range seen among all judges at the Houston North office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, his approval rate has shifted over his 5,319 decisions on record. After hovering in the low 50% range from 2016 to 2019, his approval rate increased in 2020 and has remained consistently higher in recent years. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of your assigned judge.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While David R. Gutierrez has a 64% lifetime approval rate, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.