Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing process. Judge Manley maintains a 43% lifetime approval rate, which we evaluate against the Little Rock Hearing Office average of 41% and the national benchmark of 58%. These figures are derived from 3,331 lifetime decisions rendered during his tenure. 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 Manley'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 his 2 years on the bench, Judge Manley has shown a steady evolution in his decision-making. His approval rate moved from 40% in 2016 to 46% in 2017, reflecting a positive trend in allowances during his time in office. This shift suggests that the judge's recent approach has become more aligned with the broader state average. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern as his experience on the bench has grown.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Manley'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 Manley? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Little Rock hearing office
The Little Rock Hearing Office serves you throughout Arkansas, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 41% in the latest reporting period. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Little Rock 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 you cannot choose your judge. At the Little Rock Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 27% to 52%. While these variations exist, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent across all courtrooms. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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.