Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. Katherine Loo's 59% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 28% to 65% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Francisco hearing office. This comparison uses only since-2016 data to ensure accuracy. 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 Loo. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Loo'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
Across 2,173 decisions on record since 2016, Katherine Loo has maintained a relatively steady approval pattern. While her annual approval rates have fluctuated—ranging from a low of 49% in 2021 to a high of 64% in 2024—the overall trend reflects a consistent approach to case evaluation. The most recent data from 2025 shows an approval rate of 63%, suggesting that her recent decisions remain aligned with her long-term average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Loo'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 San Francisco hearing office
Katherine Loo's most recent office on record is the San Francisco hearing office, where her last recorded decision occurred in September 2025. This office serves the California region and is associated with a bench of 10 judges. You can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history at this office. You can see the San Francisco Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Francisco
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the San Francisco hearing office, there are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 65%. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Katherine Loo's 59% approval rate on record since 2016 is situated within the 28% to 65% range of the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Francisco hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Her approval rate has shown some yearly variance, moving from 60% in 2016 to 63% in 2025, but the overall pattern remains steady. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why working with an attorney to build a strong case is essential regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the hearing.
The 59% approval rate on record since 2016 reflects past decisions and is not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you gather the necessary records to present your strongest case.
