Approval rates
Judge Hopkins maintains a lifetime approval rate of 48%, a figure derived from a docket of 16,888 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate of 60% shows a variance compared to the 54% office average and the 58% national average. These statistics provide a broad view of his judicial history, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your 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 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
Over his 10 years on the bench, Judge Hopkins has navigated a shifting caseload. His approval rate saw a period of decline between 2016 and 2021, dropping from 61% to 38%, before beginning a recovery. The most recent data shows an uptick, with a 65% approval rate in 2025. This recent trend suggests a shift in case outcomes that diverges from his long-term historical average.
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.
Hearing with Judge Hopkins? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Louis hearing office
The St Louis Hearing Office serves a broad population across Missouri, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges presiding, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 54%. You can expect a formal process focused on the rigorous evaluation of medical and vocational evidence. You can visit the St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The St Louis Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Hopkins is essentially random. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 41% to 70%. This variance highlights the importance of focusing on your own medical documentation regardless of the specific judge assigned.
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.