Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While the 58% approval rate on record since 2017 provides a broad view of history, the latest-period data offers a more current snapshot. In the most recent reporting period, Emily Kirk maintained a 64% approval rate, which sits 4 points above the Orlando office average of 60%.
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 Kirk'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 December 2017, Emily Kirk has issued 3,058 decisions on record. Her approval rate has shown an upward trend over the last several years, moving from 51% in 2020 to 64% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This recent performance reflects a shift from earlier, lower approval rates.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kirk'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 Orlando hearing office
The Orlando hearing office serves you and other claimants across central Florida. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orlando
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 89% on their records since 2016.
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
In the most recent reporting period, Emily Kirk's 64% approval rate is 4 points higher than the Orlando office average of 60%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend in the approval rate over the last several years. While the rate was 51% in 2020, it has risen to 64% in the most recent partial fiscal year. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case that meets the evidentiary standards expected at any hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a compelling case.
