Approval rates
Comparing David Johnson's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While the judge has a 49% approval rate across 3,952 decisions since 2016, the office bench shows a wide range of outcomes from 30% to 78%. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 43% approval rate sits 15 percentage points below the office average of 58%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than individual case outcomes.
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 Johnson'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 David Johnson has fluctuated since 2016. After maintaining rates near 51% through 2019, the data shows a period of lower approval before returning to 52% in 2024. The most recent fiscal year-to-date figure of 43% indicates a divergence from the long-term average. This recent pattern may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality presented at your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Tacoma hearing office
The Tacoma hearing office serves you and other claimants across Washington. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an office-wide approval rate of 58% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a formal administrative process where evidence quality is the primary driver of the outcome. You can see the Tacoma hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office. Approval rates among this group vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 78% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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 Johnson has a 49% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 30% to 78% range established by the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with these local trends.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. While the judge maintained an approval rate of 51% to 52% during several years, the most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 43% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses these variations.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney to prepare for any judge is a recommended strategy.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. Because outcomes are not guaranteed, having an attorney to organize your medical records and prepare your testimony is a standard way to strengthen your case.
The 49% approval rate on record for David Johnson is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends heavily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your file before you appear in court.
