Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes. While Brenda Rosten maintains a 64% approval rate across her total record since 2016, her latest-period performance shows a 72% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 9 percentage points above the Fargo office average of 63% and 14 points above the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding recent activity.
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 Rosten'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
Brenda Rosten's approval rate has varied across the 4,582 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of stability in the late 2010s, the rate shifted between 2020 and 2022 before trending upward. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date figure of 72% represents the most recent data point in this trajectory.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rosten'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 Fargo hearing office
Brenda Rosten's most recent office on record is the Fargo hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 63%. You can see the Fargo hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fargo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this bench range from 46% to 72% on their since-2016 records.
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
Brenda Rosten's 64% approval rate since 2016 sits within the range of 46% to 72% observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is Fargo. In the latest reporting period, her 72% approval rate is 9 percentage points higher than the office average. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Brenda Rosten has fluctuated. She started with a 61% approval rate in 2016, and the rate reached 72% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot select your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome with professional legal support. An attorney can help you prepare.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. While Brenda Rosten has a 64% approval rate since 2016, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony presented in your case. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible evidence file for your hearing.
