Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The judge's 57% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 45% to 85% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 67% approval rate compares to the office-wide rate of 71%. These figures reflect recent trends in case outcomes.
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 Schallner'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
Since September 2016, the judge has issued 3,154 decisions. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 51% in 2017, 46% in 2018, 48% in 2019, 58% in 2020, 60% in 2021, 58% in 2022, 63% in 2023, 66% in 2024, 66% in 2025, and 67% in 2026. The latest reporting period shows a 67% approval rate, which reflects a continuation of this upward trend compared to the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Schallner'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
The Oklahoma City hearing office is the judge's most recent office on record as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 71%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City hearing office, and 11 of them decided cases there in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 45% to 85% on their records since 2016.
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 Schallner has a 57% approval rate on record since 2016, which falls within the 45% to 85% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with this judge's history.
Yes, the judge's approval rate has trended upward over the years. The most recent period shows a 67% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards this judge typically requires.
No. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your ability to work. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the specific questions this judge may ask. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
The 57% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality and completeness of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible before your hearing.
