Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 69% approval rate for Roland D. Mather covers all decisions on record since 2016, which we compare against the 43% to 75% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville. These figures are derived from a total of 49 decisions on record since 2016. 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 Mather. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mather'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 approval pattern for Roland D. Mather is based on 49 decisions on record since 2016. During 2016, the approval rate was 69%. Because the record window for this judge concludes in September 2016, the data reflects a specific snapshot in time. This pattern provides a baseline for understanding how the judge has historically approached disability claims within the Louisville office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mather'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 Louisville hearing office
The Louisville hearing office serves you if you are in Kentucky and surrounding areas. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. If you appear at this office, you can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Louisville hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 75% on their since-2016 records. While these figures vary, the process for presenting medical evidence remains consistent across the bench.
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
Roland D. Mather has an approval rate of 69% on record since 2016. This sits within the 43% to 75% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The data for Roland D. Mather covers 49 decisions on record from January 2016 through September 2016. Because the record window is limited to this period, the 69% approval rate represents the judge's activity during that time. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how a judge will rule on your specific claim. Factors such as the quality of your medical evidence and your work history are often more significant than a judge's historical average. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
