Approval rates
The approval rate for James Harty is based on 251 decisions on record since January 2016. This figure provides a baseline for understanding how this judge has historically evaluated claims compared to the broader bench at the Wichita hearing office. Judges whose most recent office on record is this one show a range of 37% to 67% in their approval rates over the same period. These figures reflect historical activity rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Harty. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Harty'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 data for James Harty covers the period from January 2016 through September 2016. During this time, the judge issued 251 decisions with an approval rate of 37%. This pattern reflects the judge's historical decision-making during the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Harty'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 Wichita hearing office
James Harty's most recent office on record is the Wichita hearing office. This office is part of a regional network tasked with processing disability claims. With 8 judges on record at this location, you can expect a standard administrative process governed by federal hearing regulations.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wichita
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Wichita hearing office. Among these, approval rates on their since-2016 records range from 37% to 67%.
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
James Harty has an approval rate of 37% based on 251 decisions on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 37% to 67% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Wichita. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
The data for James Harty covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which the approval rate remained steady at 37%. Because the data window for this judge is limited to this period, there is no long-term trend to report. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on the available 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 navigate the hearing process.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While James Harty has a 37% approval rate on record, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you determine if your case is well-positioned for a favorable outcome.
