Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers. The 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Minneapolis show a range of approval rates from 33% to 68% on their records since 2016. This variation highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case matters. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Quayle. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Quayle'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 approval rate for Michael D. Quayle is based on 445 decisions on record since 2016. During 2016, the judge maintained an approval rate of 58%. This pattern provides a view of the judge's past activity within the SSA system. Understanding these trends can help you and your representative prepare for the evidence and testimony required for your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Quayle'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 Minneapolis hearing office
The Minneapolis hearing office serves you across Minnesota and the surrounding region. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in the outcome. You can see the Minneapolis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Minneapolis
The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Minneapolis, and their approval rates vary significantly across the bench. With a range of 33% to 68% among these peers, your assigned judge can influence the context of your hearing. 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
Judge Quayle has an approval rate of 58% on his record since 2016. This sits within the 33% to 68% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Minneapolis. An attorney can help you understand how these figures might relate to your specific case.
The data for Judge Quayle covers the period from January 2016 to September 2016, during which he maintained a 58% approval rate across 445 decisions. Because the data window for this judge is limited to this period, there is no long-term trend to report. An attorney can help you assess how your medical evidence aligns with current hearing standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you may encounter.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While it provides context for the judge's history, the success of your claim depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and prepare effectively.
