Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While John D. Sullivan maintains a 59% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period approval rate of 62% sits 4 percentage points above the Eugene office average of 58%. These figures are derived from a record of 4,204 decisions. 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 Sullivan'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 decision record for John D. Sullivan shows an upward trend in approval rates. After starting at 45% in 2016, the rate climbed, peaking at 71% in 2022 before stabilizing in the mid-60s during the most recent reporting periods. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sullivan'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Eugene hearing office
The Eugene hearing office serves you throughout Oregon and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a bench of 11 judges who manage a volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 58%, the facility focuses on maintaining consistent processing standards for all applicants.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your specific judge is chosen at random. The Eugene office features 11 judges on record since 2016, 6 of whom are reported in the latest SSA data. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 81% over their respective careers.
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
John D. Sullivan maintains a 59% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 32% to 81% range seen across the Eugene bench. His latest-period approval rate of 62% is 4 percentage points higher than the office average of 58%. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific judge's courtroom.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend in his approval rate since 2016. While he began with a 45% approval rate, his decisions have trended higher in recent years, remaining in the 60% to 70% range since 2021. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case that meets the evidentiary standards of any judge at the Eugene office.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.