Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers can help you prepare for your hearing. The 48% approval rate for Timothy G. Stewart is based on 1,261 decisions on record since 2016. When compared to the 24% to 54% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie, this figure offers context for the local 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 Stewart. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stewart'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 approval trend for Timothy G. Stewart showed a steady progression during his time on record. Starting at 44% in 2016, the approval rate reached 50% in 2017 and 2018, before rising to 52% in 2019. This 1,261-decision sample size reflects a consistent approach to case evaluation over the observed period. The gradual increase in the approval rate suggests a pattern that remained stable throughout his time at the Metairie office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stewart'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 Metairie hearing office
Timothy G. Stewart's most recent office on record is the Metairie hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves the Louisiana region and maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the specific medical evidence presented in your file. You can see the Metairie Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie, with approval rates ranging from 24% to 54% on their since-2016 records. Five of these judges decided cases here in the SSA's latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Timothy G. Stewart has an approval rate of 48% on his record since 2016. This sits within the 24% to 54% range observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Metairie. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the approval rate for Timothy G. Stewart showed a steady trend during his time on record. It moved from 44% in 2016 to 52% by 2019 across his 1,261 decisions. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these historical patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure impartiality. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your disability.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Timothy G. Stewart approved 48% of cases on his record since 2016, your result depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build a strong case to present to the judge.
