Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to regional and national benchmarks provides context for what to expect at your hearing. While the national average approval rate currently sits at 58%, Judge Morrow's recent performance shows a 32% approval rate. This data is drawn from a large docket of 19,466 lifetime decisions, offering a stable look at her history. 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 Morrow'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 9 years on the bench, Judge Morrow has maintained a varied approval pattern. After a period of relative stability between 2018 and 2021, her approval rates saw a notable increase in 2023 and 2024 before shifting to 32% in the most recent reporting period. This recent shift represents a departure from her long-term average of 43%. Such fluctuations often reflect changes in the complexity of cases assigned or evolving evidentiary requirements, rather than a permanent change in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Morrow'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 Morrow? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Detroit hearing office
The Detroit Hearing Office serves a large population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a team of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where case outcomes can vary based on the specific evidence you present. You can visit the Detroit Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Detroit Hearing Office, the bench includes 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 43% to 75%. Because assignment is essentially random, you may be scheduled before any of these professionals. You can review the full office roster to understand the broader judicial environment.
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.