Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. Charles R. Lindsay's 43% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 38% to 79% range observed among the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport. This range provides a clear view of how different benches handle disability claims. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Lindsay. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lindsay'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
The approval rate for Charles R. Lindsay has shown a varied trend across the 1,653 decisions on record since 2016. After an initial 47% approval rate in 2016, the figures were 40% in 2017, 44% in 2018, and 38% in 2019. This pattern reflects the inherent variability in disability adjudication over time. The data suggests that the decision-making process remains sensitive to the specific evidence you present in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lindsay'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 Shreveport hearing office
Charles R. Lindsay's most recent office on record is the Shreveport hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves claimants across Louisiana and is part of a regional network of SSA hearing sites. With a bench of 6 judges on record, the office maintains a consistent process for evaluating disability claims. You can see the Shreveport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 38% to 79% on their since-2016 records. For your preparation, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Charles R. Lindsay's 43% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 38% to 79% range of the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Charles R. Lindsay has fluctuated, moving from 47% in 2016 to 38% in 2019. These variations are common in SSDI dockets and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Charles R. Lindsay has a 43% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
