Approval rates
The approval rate for Richard Hopkins is based on 2,736 lifetime decisions recorded since 2016. This figure sits within the broader 30% to 78% lifetime approval-rate range observed among the 24 judges who have served at the St Louis hearing office. By comparing these figures, you can better understand the statistical landscape of your upcoming hearing. 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 Hopkins. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Hopkins'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 record for Richard Hopkins shows a varied approval trend since 2016. After starting with a 58% approval rate, the figures fluctuated through the middle years before showing a recent upward shift in 2024 and 2025. With 2,736 lifetime decisions analyzed, this pattern provides a clear view of how the judge has approached cases over the last decade. The recent uptick in approvals may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented at hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hopkins'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 St Louis hearing office
The St Louis hearing office serves claimants throughout Missouri and the surrounding region. It maintains a bench of 24 judges on record, ensuring that a wide variety of cases are processed daily. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 51%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges on record at this office since 2016, 17 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 78% 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 Hopkins has a lifetime approval rate of 47% across 2,736 decisions. This places him within the office-wide lifetime range of 30% to 78%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with the standards at this office.
Yes, the approval rate for Richard Hopkins has fluctuated since 2016. While he saw lower approval rates in the 2021-2022 period, the data indicates an upward trend in 2024 and 2025. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you practice your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Richard Hopkins has approved 47% of the 2,736 cases he has decided since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths regardless of the assigned judge.