Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their hearing office. The 52% approval rate for David L. Horton is based on 1,130 decisions since 2016. When compared to the 23 other judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham, this rate sits within a range of 28% to 85%. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Horton. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Horton'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 trend for David L. Horton showed a consistent pattern during the period of 2016 through 2018. Starting with a 55% approval rate in 2016, the figures remained steady at 54% in 2017 before shifting to 46% in 2018. With 1,130 total decisions on record, these yearly variations highlight the importance of your case-specific evidence. The data suggests that while the judge's overall rate is 52%, your specific outcome is influenced by the unique requirements of your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Horton'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 Birmingham hearing office
The Birmingham hearing office serves you and other claimants across Alabama and the surrounding region. As of the most recent data, 23 judges have their most recent record at this location. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Birmingham hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham, and their approval rates on record since 2016 vary significantly from 28% to 85%. Because this assignment process is automated, you cannot request a specific judge. You should focus on preparing your evidence 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
David L. Horton has an approval rate of 52% across 1,130 decisions on record since 2016. Among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham, approval rates range from 28% to 85%. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The approval rate for David L. Horton was 55% in 2016, 54% in 2017, and 46% in 2018. These figures are based on a total of 1,130 decisions on record. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The 52% approval rate for David L. Horton reflects past decisions and is not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
