Approval rates
Comparing judicial records requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your lifetime approval rate for S. Pines sits at 66%, recent data shows a 65% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This performance is 1 percentage point above the Portland OR office average of 64% for the same period. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline.
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 Pines'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
The record for S. Pines shows a steady evolution in approval patterns since 2016. After starting at 55% in the early years of the data window, the approval rate trended upward, reaching a peak of 76% in 2025 before adjusting to 65% in the most recent period. This movement across 3,539 lifetime decisions suggests a judge who responds to the specific evidence presented in each case. The latest period reflects a return toward the long-term average after a period of higher approvals.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pines'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 Portland OR hearing office
The Portland OR hearing office serves you throughout the region, managing a diverse caseload of disability applications. The office maintains a bench of 12 judges who collectively handle the local docket. With a latest-period office-wide approval rate of 64%, the environment is focused on the objective evaluation of medical evidence. For more information, see the Portland OR Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 66% over their respective lifetimes. 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
In the latest reporting period, S. Pines approved 65% of cases, which is 1 percentage point higher than the Portland OR office average of 64%. While this places S. Pines near the top of the office's lifetime range of 34% to 66%, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's courtroom.
Yes, the approval rate for S. Pines has fluctuated over the years. It rose from 55% in 2016 to a high of 76% in 2025, before settling at 65% in the most recent reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with current trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case that meets the evidentiary standards of any judge at the Portland OR office.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. Because the process can be intimidating, an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of a future outcome. While S. Pines has a lifetime approval rate of 66%, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.