Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, John D. Sullivan's 62% approval rate is measured against the office average of 58%, the state average of 62%, and the national average of 58%. His record since 2016 includes 4,204 decisions, providing a broader view of his activity.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
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, John D. Sullivan has issued 4,204 decisions. His yearly approval rates have fluctuated, with the most recent 12 months sitting slightly above his overall record of 59% since 2016.
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.
About the Eugene hearing office
The Eugene Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for 10 judges, 5 of whom decided cases in SSA's latest file through July 2026. The office maintained a 58% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene
Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene, 5 decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 5 judges range from 49% to 75% in their approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Sullivan's 62%. Four of them last decided cases in Oregon. With too few close matches there, the rest come from other regions.
- 61% Approval rate, last 12 months Richard Geib
- 64% Approval rate, last 12 months S. Pines
- 58% Approval rate, last 12 months Katherine Weatherly
- 67% Approval rate, last 12 months Paula M. Martin
- 62% Approval rate, last 12 months Cynthia S. Harmon
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Sullivan and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, John D. Sullivan's 62% approval rate sits within the 49% to 75% range of the 5 judges who decided cases at the Eugene Hearing Office during that same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
John D. Sullivan's approval rate has varied year-to-year since 2016, ranging from a low of 45% in 2016 to a high of 71% in 2022. His 62% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, remains consistent with his long-term average of 59% since 2016. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and testimony remains the most important factor in your claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for your hearing.
