Approval rates
Judge Snelling maintains a lifetime approval rate of 56% based on 11,278 lifetime decisions. In the latest reporting period, his rate sits 6 points below the Fresno office average of 62%, 3 points below the state average of 59%, and 2 points below the national average of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in his courtroom over the last 5 years.
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 Snelling'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 his 5-year tenure, your judge has shown a variable trend in approval rates. Starting at 49% in 2016, the rate fluctuated before reaching 65% in 2020. This pattern suggests that the approach to evidence and case requirements has evolved over his 11,278 lifetime decisions. The recent uptick in the latest period may reflect changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in his courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Snelling'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 Snelling? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Fresno hearing office
The Fresno Hearing Office serves a significant population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 62% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the Fresno Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Fresno Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 37% to 73%. Because of this variance, the specific judge you draw can influence the procedural flow of your hearing.
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.