Approval rates
The judge's 48% approval rate on record since 2016 is evaluated against the 47% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Smith. This comparison provides a clearer picture of how this judge's history aligns with the broader bench. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Starr. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Starr'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
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016. After starting at 42% in 2016, the rate reached 53% in 2021 before settling at 49% in 2023. These 3,472 decisions on record demonstrate a pattern that has remained consistent over the long term.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Starr'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 Fort Smith hearing office
Edward M. Starr's most recent SSA record (September 2024) is at the Fort Smith hearing office, which serves the surrounding region of Arkansas. This office hosts a bench of 8 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can see the Fort Smith Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Smith
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench range from 47% to 79% 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
Edward M. Starr has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 47% to 79% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Smith. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The judge's approval rate has shown variation, moving from 42% in 2016 to 53% in 2021, before reaching 49% in 2023. These 3,472 decisions on record indicate a stable, long-term pattern. 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 uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. An attorney can help you prepare your evidence regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
