Approval rates
Your judge's approval rate is measured against the broader context of the Jackson MS hearing office and national trends. While the office latest approval rate sits at 55%, your judge's performance has remained higher, reflecting a consistent approach to case evaluation. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 6,718 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline for your review.
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 Kerstine'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 a 3-year tenure, your judge has maintained a high approval rate, with yearly performance showing 91% in 2016, 93% in 2017, and 90% in 2018. This steady pattern across 6,718 lifetime decisions suggests a consistent application of Social Security Administration guidelines. The stability of these numbers indicates that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony has remained predictable throughout their time on the bench.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kerstine'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 Kerstine? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Jackson MS hearing office
The Jackson MS hearing office serves you and other claimants across Mississippi, managing a high volume of cases with a bench of 4 judges. The office currently reports a 55% approval rate, which serves as a benchmark for the region. When you appear here, be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and work history. You can see the Jackson MS Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Jackson MS hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 40% to 91%. Regardless of the specific judge assigned to your hearing, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain the same.
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.