Approval rates
Understanding how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. The bench at the Orange office shows a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 19% to 68% across all judges whose most recent office on record is this one. With 330 decisions on record since 2016, the data for Joan Ho offers a clear look at past trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Ho. 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 Ho'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 approval rate for Joan Ho is based on 330 decisions on record since January 2016. During this period, the data reflects a consistent pattern in decision outcomes. Because case assignment is handled by a workload-balancing algorithm, the specific judge you are assigned is essentially random. This pattern provides a baseline for understanding how past cases have been handled, 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 Ho'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 Orange hearing office
Joan Ho's most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, where the last recorded decision occurred in September 2016. This office serves you in the California region and is part of a larger network of hearing offices that handle disability appeals. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orange
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange office, with an approval-rate range of 19% to 68% on their since-2016 records. While you may be assigned to any of these judges, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. 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
Joan Ho has an approval rate of 19% on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 19% to 68% observed among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
The approval rate for Joan Ho has remained consistent based on the 330 decisions on record since January 2016. Because this data reflects past decisions, it serves as a reference point rather than a guarantee of future outcomes. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which ensures that cases are distributed randomly. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you build a strong case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Joan Ho has an approval rate of 19% on record since 2016, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical and vocational evidence presented. An attorney can help you build a strong case to present to any judge.
