Approval rates
The 51% approval rate for Preston L. Mitchell reflects all decisions on record since 2018. These figures are best understood when compared to the 28% to 85% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is the Salt Lake City hearing office.
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 Mitchell'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
Since January 2018, the approval rate for Preston L. Mitchell has varied. His latest-period approval rate is 55%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the latest-period office average. This recent performance reflects a steady pattern, though your outcome remains dependent on the specific evidence presented in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mitchell'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 Salt Lake City hearing office
The Salt Lake City hearing office is the most recent office on record for Preston L. Mitchell, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 52%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Salt Lake City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Salt Lake City hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 85% on their records since 2016.
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
Preston L. Mitchell has an approval rate of 51% on record since 2018. This sits within the broader range of 28% to 85% observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Salt Lake City hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Preston L. Mitchell has fluctuated over time, starting at 57% in 2018 and reaching 55% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will discuss your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Preston L. Mitchell has a 51% approval rate since 2018, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation supporting your disability. An attorney can help you strengthen your case file before your hearing date.
