Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Julie Nestler has an approval rate of 42% across her total record since 2023, her latest-period performance shows a 32% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 32 points below the Dallas North OHO office average of 64%. These metrics are based on a volume of 1,267 decisions on record since 2023.
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 Nestler'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 2023, Julie Nestler has issued 1,267 decisions. The yearly trend shows a shift in approval rates, beginning at 59% in 2023, moving to 44% in 2024, 40% in 2025, and 32% in the partial 2026 fiscal year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Nestler'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 Dallas North OHO hearing office
Julie Nestler's most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the North Texas region and maintains a bench of 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. Claimants at this office face an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 64%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas North OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO, and 11 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 24% to 88% on their since-2016 records.
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
Julie Nestler's 42% approval rate on record since 2023 sits within the 24% to 88% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas North OHO. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval rates over time. Julie Nestler approved 59% of cases in 2023, compared to a 32% approval rate in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence required for your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Dallas North OHO. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards required for a successful outcome with any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your disability.
The 42% approval rate for Julie Nestler represents an aggregate of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
