Approval rates
Comparing a judge's history against broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the national average approval rate currently sits at 58%, Judge Holsclaw's latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 45%. This data is drawn from a significant docket of 24,686 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of his judicial history. 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 Holsclaw'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 his 10 years on the bench, Judge Holsclaw has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. His yearly approval rates have fluctuated between 45% and 56%, showing a steady pattern rather than sharp volatility. While his most recent reporting period shows a 45% approval rate, this is consistent with his long-term career average. These trends suggest a judge who relies heavily on the specific medical evidence presented in each individual case file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Holsclaw'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 Holsclaw? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Lexington hearing office
The Lexington Hearing Office serves you throughout Kentucky, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate that reflects the regional case mix. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Lexington Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Lexington Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates for the bench range from 46% to 54%. Because assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the quality of your medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the Lexington 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.