Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The judge's 44% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 34% to 64% range of the office's bench. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 47% approval rate compares against the 56% office average, the 56% state average, and the 58% national average.
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
The approval rate for Ross Stubblefield has shown variation across the 5,696 decisions on record since 2016. The yearly trend has remained steady, with the latest-period approval rate of 47% reflecting recent activity. These trends provide insight into historical decision-making, though each case is unique.
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.
About the Houston North hearing office
Ross Stubblefield's most recent office on record is the Houston North hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges with varying approval patterns. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 56%, which provides a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Houston North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 9 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench range from 34% to 64%.
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 Stubblefield's 44% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 34% to 64% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Houston North location. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to your specific judge.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching 47% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have a strong, evidence-based case prepared by an attorney.
The 44% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past outcomes, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
