Approval rates
Judge Stripling's lifetime approval rate of 44% is based on a docket of 7,591 decisions. In the latest reporting period, his performance was 3 points higher than the Little Rock office average of 41%, though he tracked 2 points below the state average of 46% and 14 points below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding his judicial history.
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 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
Over his 3 years on the bench, Judge Stripling's approval rate has varied. After maintaining rates of 48% in 2016 and 50% in 2017, the data shows a rate of 19% in 2018. This pattern suggests that case outcomes can fluctuate based on evolving evidence standards or changes in the types of claims presented. Understanding these trends helps in setting realistic expectations for your upcoming hearing.
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.
Hearing with Judge Stripling? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Little Rock hearing office
The Little Rock Hearing Office serves you and other applicants across Arkansas and parts of the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, this office manages a high volume of disability claims. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 41%, reflecting the regional landscape of SSDI adjudication. You can find more information on the local bench by visiting the Little Rock Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Little Rock Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 27% to 52%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony remains the most effective way to prepare.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.