Approval rates
Comparing Judge Thames to the broader bench provides context for your hearing. While her 70% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 21% to 76% range of her peers at the Dallas Downtown office, recent data shows a 76% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure is 18 percentage points higher than the office average of 58%. 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 Thames'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, Judge Thames has issued 3,845 decisions with a generally consistent approval pattern. While the rate fluctuated between 60% and 78% over the years, the recent trend shows stability, with the latest-period approval rate of 76% aligning with her performance in 2025. This recent activity reflects a continuation of a pattern where the judge's approval rate remains notably above the local and national averages.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thames'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 Dallas Downtown hearing office
The Dallas Downtown hearing office serves you and other claimants across Texas. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an average approval rate of 58% in the latest reporting period. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas Downtown
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 76% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Thames has a 70% approval rate on her record since 2016, which is at the higher end of the 21% to 76% range seen among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Judge Thames's approval rate has seen some variance over the years, starting at 63% in 2016 and reaching 76% in the latest reporting period. This indicates a trend of higher approval rates in recent years compared to her earlier record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your work-related limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
