Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at the judge's historical performance. Judge Sharp maintains a lifetime approval rate of 35% across 23,972 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded a 42% approval rate, which sits 22 points below the current Houston North office average of 57%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable view of past judicial 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 Sharp'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
Over a decade on the bench, Judge Sharp has navigated a varied caseload. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, moving from a 27% approval rate in 2016 to a 41% rate in 2025. While the rate dipped to 31% in 2024, the most recent data indicates a return toward the higher end of the judge's historical range. This pattern suggests that while the judge's approach remains consistent, the specific evidence and case mix presented in any given year can influence outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sharp'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.
Hearing with Judge Sharp? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Houston North hearing office
The Houston North Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across Texas. With a team of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of cases to address the needs of the region. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 57%, which is consistent with state and national averages. You can see the Houston North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Houston North Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges vary significantly, ranging from 35% to 62%. Because this variance exists, understanding the bench as a whole is part of your preparation. You can review the full roster of judges on the Houston North Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.