Approval rates
Judge Hatfield maintains a lifetime approval rate of 82% based on 22,491 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, he recorded a 78% approval rate, which is 14 points above the Honolulu office average of 68% and 24 points above the national average of 58%. This volume of cases provides a statistical baseline for understanding his history. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 Hatfield'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 decade on the bench, Judge Hatfield has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. While his approval rate reached 96% in 2023, recent data shows a 78% approval rate in 2025. This pattern suggests that while he is generally favorable, your outcome remains dependent on the medical evidence you present. The recent shift reflects a return to his long-term average after a period of higher-than-usual approvals.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hatfield'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 Hatfield? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Honolulu hearing office
The Honolulu Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Hawaii and the surrounding region. With a team of 5 judges, the office manages a substantial caseload and maintains a recent approval rate of 68%. If you are appearing here, you should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can visit the Honolulu Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Honolulu bench, lifetime approval rates for the 5 judges range from 48% to 82%. Regardless of which judge is assigned to your case, the core requirements for proving your disability remain the same. You can find more information on the Honolulu 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.