Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Mark Kim's 52% approval rate is measured against the Dallas North OHO office rate of 63%, the Texas state rate of 56%, and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from his 395 decisions during this period.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kim'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
Since 2016, Mark Kim has issued 3,945 decisions on record. His approval rate has varied over this period, with the most recent 12 months sitting near his 51% approval rate recorded across his entire record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kim'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 Dallas North OHO hearing office
The Dallas North OHO serves you in Texas and is part of the broader SSA regional hearing network. With 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it handles a significant volume of disability claims. The office recorded a 63% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas North OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO, 11 decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 11 judges range from 20% to 98% in their approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Kim's 52%. All five last decided cases in Texas.
- 52% Approval rate, last 12 months Thomas J. Helget
- 52% Approval rate, last 12 months David Foley
- 52% Approval rate, last 12 months David R. Wurm
- 52% Approval rate, last 12 months Katherine W. Brown
- 52% Approval rate, last 12 months Mark J. Mendola
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Kim and the three closest side by side →
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
Mark Kim's 52% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits below the office average of 63%. Among the 11 judges in SSA's latest file at this office, approval rates range from 20% to 98% for the same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Mark Kim's approval rate has varied throughout his time on record since 2016, reaching a high of 64% in 2017 and a low of 40% in 2024. His current 52% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, reflects the most recent data. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Mark Kim has approved 52% of cases over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most critical factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
