Approval rates
Comparing Sung Park's performance requires looking at consistent reporting periods. While his lifetime approval rate sits at 38%, his latest-period approval rate is 54%. This latest figure is 16 percentage points lower than the Los Angeles Downtown office average of 70%, 7 points below the state average of 61%, and 4 points below the national average of 58%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Park'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
Sung Park's record spans 3,056 decisions since 2016. The yearly trend shows a period of relative stability in the 30% range followed by a marked increase in approvals starting in 2025. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent upward trend. This pattern suggests that recent case outcomes have diverged from the judge's long-term historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Park'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 Los Angeles Downtown hearing office
The Los Angeles Downtown hearing office serves a large population in California. With a bench of 10 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 70%. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The Los Angeles Downtown office features 10 judges on record since 2016, 4 of whom reported in the latest period. These judges show a broad range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 38% to 78%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Sung Park's lifetime approval rate of 38% sits at the lower end of the 38% to 78% range seen across the bench at the Los Angeles Downtown office. Because each judge evaluates evidence differently, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in recent years. After maintaining approval rates between 26% and 40% from 2017 through 2024, the rate increased to 55% in 2025 and remains at 54% in the latest period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will be present to discuss your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions this judge may ask.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.