Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent data windows. The 46% approval rate for Clarence D. Stripling reflects his total decisions on record since 2016, which you can evaluate against the 27% to 66% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Little Rock Hearing Office. These figures provide a baseline for understanding how past cases have been decided at this location.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Stripling. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stripling'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 rate for Clarence D. Stripling showed variation across the 1,136 decisions on record since 2016. After an approval rate of 45% in 2016 and 55% in 2017, the record shows 19% approval over 152 decisions in 2018. This shift in the final year of the record represents a notable departure from the earlier figures.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stripling'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 Little Rock hearing office
Clarence D. Stripling's most recent SSA record is at the Little Rock Hearing Office, which serves Arkansas. With 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench manages a significant volume of cases. You can expect a formal process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Little Rock
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Little Rock Hearing Office, with approval rates ranging from 27% to 66% on their since-2016 records. Because individual judges may approach evidence differently, understanding the office-wide bench is a helpful part of your preparation.
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
Judge Stripling has a 46% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 27% to 66% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Little Rock Hearing Office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Judge Stripling was 45% in 2016, 55% in 2017, and 19% in 2018. These figures are based on 1,136 total decisions on record. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate your options.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert appear before the judge. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
The 46% approval rate for Judge Stripling represents a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you determine if your case is ready for a hearing.
