Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure a fair assessment. While the lifetime approval rate for Erin Justice is 51%, recent data shows a 56% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This sits against an office-wide lifetime range of 31% to 75% for the 22 judges on record at the Denver office. These figures reflect historical trends rather than guaranteed outcomes 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 Justice'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 Erin Justice spans 4,076 decisions since 2016, revealing a fluctuating approval trend. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2019, the judge saw an increase in approvals starting in 2022, maintaining a steadier rate through 2024. The latest period shows a 56% approval rate. This trend reflects the judge's historical decision-making patterns over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Justice'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver hearing office serves you across Colorado and the surrounding region. With 22 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence and vocational history at this office.
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 22 judges on record at the Denver office since 2016, 9 of whom reported in the latest period. These judges exhibit a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 31% to 75%.
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
Erin Justice has a lifetime approval rate of 51% across 4,076 decisions. This places her within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 31% to 75% observed among the 22 judges on record at the Denver office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these local benchmarks.
Yes, the approval rate for Erin Justice has shifted since 2016. After reaching a low point in 2019, the rate trended upward between 2022 and 2024 before settling at 56% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the current evidentiary standards of this judge.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Denver hearing office. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be questioned about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.