Approval rates
Judge Leslie maintains a 37% lifetime approval rate across 19,398 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, her 31% approval rate stands 21 percentage points below the national average of 58%. These figures offer a view of her judicial history, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing.
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 Leslie'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
Over her 10 years on the bench, Judge Leslie has seen her approval rates fluctuate between 31% and 44%. Her most recent 31% approval rate is consistent with the patterns observed throughout her tenure. The data suggests a steady judicial approach to the evidence you present in your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Leslie'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.
Hearing with Judge Leslie? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Louis hearing office
The St Louis Hearing Office serves a broad population across Missouri. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an approval rate that reflects the diverse nature of the cases heard in this region. If you are appearing here, be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Across the St Louis bench, the 6 ALJs range from 37% to 70% in their lifetime approval rates. Because you cannot choose your judge, focus on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. You can find more information on the St Louis Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.