Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to compare a judge's performance against the broader bench. The 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver hearing office show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 31% to 75% on their records since 2016. With 2,294 decisions on record, the data for Kathleen Laub offers a stable view of her historical decision-making patterns.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Laub. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Laub'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, the approval rate for Kathleen Laub has shown notable fluctuations. After reaching a high of 60% in 2018, the annual approval rate trended downward, reaching 28% in 2023 before seeing a slight shift to 34% in 2024. These 2,294 decisions represent a significant volume of cases, and the recent data reflects a period of lower approval rates compared to the period starting in 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Laub'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver hearing office serves you and other claimants across Colorado and the surrounding region. This office features a bench of 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Denver hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver hearing office, and their approval rates vary significantly from 31% to 75%.
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
Kathleen Laub has an approval rate of 42% on her record since 2016. Among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver hearing office, approval rates range from 31% to 75%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the approval rate for Kathleen Laub has varied over time. While she reached a peak of 60% in 2018, her recent annual rates have been lower, including 28% in 2023 and 34% in 2024. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case that addresses these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to focus on preparing a comprehensive case file with the help of an attorney.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. With 2,294 decisions on record, the history of Kathleen Laub is one factor among many, including your medical evidence and work history. An attorney can help you evaluate your specific situation.
