Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge has an overall approval rate of 69% since 2016, his latest-period performance shows an 83% approval rate. This latest figure sits 12 percentage points above the Oklahoma City office average of 71%, 15 points above the state average of 68%, and 25 points above the national average of 58%. These figures are based on thousands of decisions, providing a robust sample size.
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 Stults'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for your judge has shown an upward trend. Starting at 56% in 2016, the rate reached 83% in the most recent partial fiscal year of 2026. This latest period represents a notable increase compared to your judge's long-term average on record. Such shifts in approval patterns often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stults'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 Oklahoma City hearing office
The Oklahoma City hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 71%, which provides a benchmark for the local judicial environment. You can see the Oklahoma City Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oklahoma City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City office, and 11 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 45% to 85% based on their records since 2016.
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
Douglas S. Stults has an approval rate of 69% across 4,172 decisions on record since 2016. This places him within the 45% to 85% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oklahoma City hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Douglas S. Stults has trended upward over time. While his rate was 56% in 2016, it has risen to 83% in the most recent partial fiscal year of 2026. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your claim, an attorney can help you evaluate your options.
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 important to be prepared for any judge by having a strong, evidence-based case. An attorney can help you prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily activities, and the specific limitations caused by your condition. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively to the judge.
