Approval rates
The approval rate for James Linehan is based on 3,209 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2023. This data provides a view of his decision-making history compared to the broader Oklahoma City office, where lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 45% to 85%. Understanding where a judge sits within this range helps you grasp the landscape of your upcoming hearing. 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 Linehan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Linehan'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 record for James Linehan shows a shift in approval patterns over the last several years. While his approval rate hovered near 50% during the 2016 to 2020 period, the data indicates an upward trend in recent years, reaching 75% in 2023. This evolution suggests that the judge's approach to evidence or case volume has changed since the start of the data window in 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Linehan'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
The Oklahoma City hearing office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 17 judges on record. This office operates within a system where case assignment is randomized to ensure efficient processing of disability claims. You can expect a formal hearing environment where your evidence quality remains the primary driver of the outcome. You can see the Oklahoma City Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016, 11 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Because approval rates across this bench vary from 45% to 85%, the specific judge assigned to your case is a factor in your hearing process.
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
James Linehan has a lifetime approval rate of 55% across 3,209 decisions. This sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 45% to 85% for the 17 judges on record at this location. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific judge.
Yes, the data shows a notable trend. After maintaining an approval rate near 50% between 2016 and 2020, his rate increased to 75% in 2023. An attorney can help you evaluate how these shifts might impact your case strategy.
No. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, and you cannot choose your presiding judge. Because you cannot control this assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence before the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the specific requirements of the SSA.