Approval rates
Judge Owen maintains a lifetime approval rate of 53% based on 2,029 total decisions. When compared to the most recent reporting period, this judge’s approval rate sits 9 points above the Charlottesville office average and 1 point above the state average, though it remains 5 points below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the hearing environment. 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 Owen'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 a one-year tenure on the bench, Judge Owen has maintained a consistent approval pattern. With 2,029 lifetime decisions, the data reflects a stable approach to case evaluation. The yearly trend shows a steady rate of 53%, indicating that the judge’s decision-making process has remained predictable throughout their time in Charlottesville. This consistency allows for a clearer understanding of how evidence is typically weighed in this courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Owen'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 Owen? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Charlottesville hearing office
The Charlottesville Hearing Office serves you and other applicants across Virginia and the surrounding region. It is staffed by 6 administrative law judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 44%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Charlottesville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Charlottesville Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 39% to 82%. While these rates vary significantly, the fundamental requirements for proving disability remain consistent across the entire office. You can view the Charlottesville Hearing Office page for more information on the local bench.
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.