Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Judith A. Kopec based on 2,377 decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical view of past activity at the Stockton hearing office. The data reflects a significant volume of cases, offering a clear look at historical patterns.
Judge Kopec is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Kopec isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kopec'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
Judith A. Kopec's approval rate shows variation across the period from 2016 through 2022. The data, covering 2,377 total decisions, indicates that the annual approval rate fluctuated between a low of 51% and a high of 70% during this timeframe. The pattern does not follow a single linear direction, reflecting the year-to-year changes in the decisions recorded.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kopec'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 Stockton hearing office
The Stockton hearing office serves you across California. This office has a bench of 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process designed to evaluate the medical and vocational evidence you present.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, with the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 29% to 57% on their since-2016 records. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 4 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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
Judith A. Kopec's 61% approval rate on record through 2022 sits within the broader context of the Stockton hearing office. The 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file show a range of 29% to 57% on their since-2016 records. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific hearing.
Judith A. Kopec's approval rate has fluctuated over the years on record. Starting at 51% in 2016, the rate reached 70% in 2021 before settling at 65% in 2022. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of these historical shifts.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare your case for any judge assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The quality of the medical evidence and vocational testimony you present is the primary factor in your case. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
