Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 57% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, while latest-period data allows for a current comparison against the Evansville office, Indiana state, and national averages. With 4,374 decisions on record, the data offers a stable look at how this judge has historically handled cases. These figures reflect past activity rather than the outcome of your specific claim.
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 Scurry'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 2016, your approval rate for Michael Scurry has fluctuated, moving from 57% in 2016 to 59% in 2026. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 59% approval rate, which is 4 points above the 55% average observed at the Evansville office during the same period. This recent performance reflects the judge's established decision-making patterns over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Scurry'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 Evansville hearing office
Michael Scurry's most recent office on record is the Evansville hearing office, which serves you in Indiana. This office maintains a bench of 7 judges who handle disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, providing a regional benchmark for your case.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Evansville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evansville hearing office, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates for this bench range from 49% to 57% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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 Scurry has a 57% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the top of the 49% to 57% range observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is Evansville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 57% in 2016 and reaching 59% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your evidence regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
The 57% approval rate on record since 2016 is a historical statistic, not a guarantee of how Judge Scurry will rule on your specific claim. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you determine how your medical evidence aligns with SSA standards.
