Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 32% approval rate for Alex S. Karlin reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 32% to 81% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene. This docket of 82 decisions provides a view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Karlin. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Karlin'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 Alex S. Karlin is based on 82 decisions on record since 2016. Because SSA assigns cases randomly, this pattern serves as a historical reference point rather than a fixed expectation for your upcoming hearing. The data reflects past decision-making tendencies.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Karlin'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 Eugene hearing office
Alex S. Karlin's most recent office on record is the Eugene hearing office, which serves you in Oregon. This office is part of a broader regional network, and the bench includes 10 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene
SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene, and their approval rates on record since 2016 range from 32% to 81%. While these rates vary, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent across the bench.
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
Alex S. Karlin has an approval rate of 32% across 82 decisions on record since 2016. This is at the lower end of the 32% to 81% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene. An attorney can help you understand how to build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The approval rate for Alex S. Karlin has remained steady at 32% based on the 82 decisions on record since 2016. Because this data represents a specific window, it is best used as a general reference for past activity. An attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. An attorney can help you prepare your evidence to meet the requirements of any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your medical evidence.
