Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for James K. Steitz based on his 104 decisions on record since 2016. This figure provides a statistical look at his historical patterns.
Judge Steitz is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Steitz isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Steitz'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
James K. Steitz's record spans from January 2016 through September 2016, during which he issued 104 decisions. The data shows an 80% approval rate for 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Steitz'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Creve Coeur
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Creve Coeur Hearing Office.
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
James K. Steitz has an 80% approval rate on his record through 2016. Because SSA assigns cases randomly, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
James K. Steitz's record is limited to the 2016 calendar year, during which he maintained an 80% approval rate across 104 decisions. A qualified attorney can review your case details to help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your own claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Creve Coeur Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide, which an attorney can help you organize and present effectively.
