Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to compare Christopher C. Knowdell's 59% approval rate on record since 2016 against the broader bench at the Sacramento hearing office, where peer approval rates range from 39% to 80%. In the most recent reporting period, the judge maintained a 60% approval rate, which sits 8 points below the office-wide average of 68% for that same period. These figures are derived from 3,959 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Knowdell'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, Christopher C. Knowdell has issued 3,959 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates ranging from a low of 49% in 2018 to a high of 68% in 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 60% approval rate, which is consistent with the judge's long-term average. This pattern reflects a steady approach to case evaluation, with the most recent period showing a slight variance from the 2023 peak.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Knowdell'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 Sacramento hearing office
Christopher C. Knowdell's most recent office on record is the Sacramento hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you throughout the California region and maintains a bench of 20 judges. In the most recent reporting period, the office-wide approval rate was 68%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Sacramento
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Sacramento hearing office, and 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 39% to 80% on their since-2016 records.
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
Christopher C. Knowdell has an approval rate of 59% on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 39% to 80% observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Sacramento hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 51% in 2016 and reaching 60% in the most recent 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. These shifts are common in SSDI case law and evidence evaluation. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
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 across all hearing offices. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have an attorney who is prepared to present your case effectively to any judge.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Christopher C. Knowdell has approved 59% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case regardless of the judge assigned.
