Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the national average approval rate currently sits at 58%, Judge Stubblefield's recent approval rate is 47%. This data is drawn from a substantial docket of 32,005 lifetime decisions, offering a reliable look at historical trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Stubblefield'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 a decade on the bench, Judge Stubblefield has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 39% in 2016 to 48% in 2025. This variation often reflects changes in the complexity of cases or the medical evidence presented. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, suggesting that the judge's decision-making remains focused on the specific merits of each individual file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stubblefield'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 Stubblefield? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Houston North hearing office
The Houston North Hearing Office serves a large population in Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an average approval rate of 57%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on vocational and medical testimony. You can visit the Houston North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Houston North Hearing Office, approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 62%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.