Approval rates
This table compares the approval rate of David R. Gutierrez against the broader bench at the Houston North hearing office. We analyze 5,319 decisions on record since January 2016 to provide a stable statistical baseline. Latest-period figures show how the judge's recent performance compares to the office, state, and national averages.
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
Since January 2016, the approval rate for David R. Gutierrez has shown an upward trend. While the rate was 50% in 2016, your judge's recent performance has remained higher, with a 71% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This recent figure sits 15 points above the office-wide average of 56%. This shift reflects a sustained pattern in how evidence is evaluated, though each case remains unique.
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 is the most recent office on record for David R. Gutierrez, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 56%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Houston North
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Houston North hearing office, and 9 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 34% to 64% on their records since 2016.
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 an approval rate of 64% since 2016, which is at the top of the 34% to 64% range observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Houston North. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to this specific judge.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. While the approval rate was 50% in 2016, it has risen in recent years, reaching 71% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 64% approval rate for David R. Gutierrez since 2016 is a historical average, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is decided on its own merits and the quality of the medical evidence provided. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
