Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, compare Emily R. Statum's performance against the broader bench. While she maintains a 52% approval rate on record since 2016, the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando office show a range of outcomes from 34% to 89%. In the most recent reporting period, her 52% approval rate sits 8 percentage points below the Orlando office's 60% average.
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 Statum'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 January 2016, Emily R. Statum has issued 3,876 decisions. Her yearly approval trend has fluctuated, with the latest reporting period showing an approval rate of 52%. This aligns with her long-term average on record, reflecting a stable decision-making pattern over the past decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Statum'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 Orlando hearing office
The Orlando hearing office serves you throughout the Florida region. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 60%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orlando
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando office, 8 of whom decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 89% 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
Emily R. Statum has a 52% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 34% to 89% established by the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orlando office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Her approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 45% in 2016 and reaching 51% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While her rates have varied annually, her long-term average remains 52% across 3,876 decisions. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your evidence is ready for the judge.
A judge's approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Emily R. Statum has a 52% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
