Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. Judge King's 64% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 31% to 77% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati Hearing Office. With 1,760 decisions on record, this data provides a stable view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge King. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge King'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, your judge's approval rate has shown an upward trend. While the rate fluctuated, it reached 91% in 2023. This pattern reflects a shift in outcomes over the 1,760 decisions on record. The recent increase in approvals suggests a change in the composition of cases or the evidence presented, marking a departure from the earlier, lower-percentage years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge King'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 Cincinnati hearing office
Kristen King's most recent office on record is the Cincinnati Hearing Office, with decisions there through September 2023. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence quality remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 31% to 77% on their records since 2016. Because of this variance, understanding the broader bench is helpful for your preparation.
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
Judge King has an approval rate of 64% based on 1,760 decisions on record since 2016. This places the judge within the 31% to 77% range of approval rates for the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Judge King has trended upward over the period from 2016 to 2023. Starting at 50% in 2016, the rate reached 91% in 2023 across the 1,760 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations from the judge and potentially a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
The 64% approval rate for Judge King represents a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Outcomes depend heavily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well your limitations are documented. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
