Approval rates
Since 2016, your judge has issued 4,083 decisions with an approval rate of 59%. In the most recent reporting period, your judge maintained a 64% approval rate, which is 13 points higher than the Cleveland office average of 51%. These figures reflect past activity and do not guarantee the outcome of your case.
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 Rose'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
Your judge's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, ranging from a low of 55% in 2019 and 2021 to a high of 67% in 2025. In the most recent partial year of 2026, your judge has recorded a 64% approval rate. This data reflects historical trends in your judge's courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rose'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 Cleveland hearing office
Cleveland is the most recent office on record for your judge, with data extending through July 2026. This office is home to 22 judges who manage the local caseload.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cleveland
There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is Cleveland. Across their records since 2016, these judges have approval rates ranging from 17% to 70%.
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
Your judge's 59% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 17% to 70% range observed among the 22 judges at the Cleveland office. In the latest reporting period, your judge's 64% approval rate was 13 points higher than the office average of 51%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case to this specific judge.
Your judge's approval rate has varied over time, starting at 57% in 2016 and reaching 67% in 2025. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
