Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks helps contextualize your hearing process. Judge Malloy's lifetime approval rate of 59% is measured against the Dallas North office's latest rate of 65% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,250 lifetime decisions, providing a stable basis for analysis. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Malloy'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 a one-year tenure, Judge Malloy has maintained a consistent approval rate of 59%. This pattern reflects a steady approach to case evaluation during their time on the bench. Because the latest reporting period shows a rate that aligns closely with their lifetime average, the data suggests a stable decision-making trend. This consistency allows for a clearer understanding of how evidence is typically weighed in this courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Malloy'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 Malloy? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Dallas North hearing office
The Dallas North Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across the region, managing a high volume of disability cases with a diverse bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 65%, which serves as a local benchmark for your proceedings. You can expect a rigorous review of medical evidence and vocational testimony during your hearing. For more information, visit the Dallas North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Dallas North Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 48% to 80%. This variance underscores the importance of focusing on the merits of your own claim. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.