Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. Richard Hlaudy maintains a lifetime approval rate of 58%, which falls within the 46% to 72% range observed among all judges on record at the Fargo hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, his 62% approval rate tracks closely with the office and state averages of 63%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Hlaudy'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 decision record for Richard Hlaudy spans 3,672 decisions since 2016, showing a clear evolution in his approval trends. After a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2022, the data shows a notable upward shift starting in 2023, with recent years consistently exceeding the 60% mark. This latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern of higher approval. Understanding these shifts is helpful, though your specific medical evidence remains the most critical factor in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hlaudy'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 Fargo hearing office
The Fargo hearing office serves you if you are in North Dakota and the surrounding region. With 7 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 63%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the documentation of your impairments and work history. You can see the Fargo Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Fargo hearing office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 7 judges on record at this office since 2016, 4 of whom reported decisions in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 46% to 72% on a lifetime basis. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Richard Hlaudy's lifetime approval rate of 58% sits within the broader office range of 46% to 72%. While his recent 62% approval rate is 1 point below the office average, it remains 4 points above the national average of 58%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might influence your hearing strategy.
Yes, the data shows a shift in his decision patterns. After a period where approval rates dipped to 51% in 2022, his record shows a consistent increase, reaching 66% in 2025 and 61% in 2026. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the current evidentiary standards of this judge.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare.
An approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Richard Hlaudy's 58% lifetime rate provides context, your specific medical records and testimony are what ultimately determine your eligibility. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.