Approval rates
The 55% approval rate for Linda Marshall reflects her entire record since 2016, which compares to the 27% to 66% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. This range highlights the variance in decision patterns across the local bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Marshall. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Marshall'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 2,500 decisions on record since 2016, the approval rate for Linda Marshall has shown a consistent pattern. The rate was 59% in 2016 and 59% in 2017, then adjusted to 52% in 2018, 51% in 2019, and 52% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Marshall'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 Little Rock hearing office
Linda Marshall's most recent office on record is the Little Rock hearing office, with decisions there through September 2020. This office maintains a bench of 16 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. Approval rates among this group range from 27% to 66%.
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
Linda Marshall's 55% approval rate sits within the 27% to 66% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary requirements of this bench.
The rate moved from 59% in the early part of the record to a range of 51% to 52% in more recent years. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing typically involves testimony from you and potentially a vocational or medical expert. The judge will review your medical records and work history to determine if you meet the criteria for SSDI benefits. An attorney can help you navigate this process.
The 55% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence aligns with the standards Linda Marshall has applied in previous cases.
