Approval rates
Judge Thomason maintains a lifetime approval rate of 65%, which compares favorably to the 58% national average and the 58% state average for Louisiana. This data is derived from a substantial docket of 5,196 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline for his decision-making history. While his latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 62%, these 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 Thomason'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
Over his 3 years on the bench, Judge Thomason has demonstrated a consistent decision-making pattern. His approval rate began at 72% in 2023 and has since adjusted to 63% in 2025, reflecting a stabilization in his caseload management. This shift is common as judges refine their approach to the specific types of medical evidence presented in their courtrooms. The latest period indicates a steady pattern that remains aligned with the broader office environment.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thomason'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.
Hearing with Judge Thomason? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Shreveport hearing office
The Shreveport Hearing Office serves a wide population across Louisiana, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 65%, reflecting the regional trends in case adjudication. You should expect a formal process focused on the documentation of your impairments and work history. You can visit the Shreveport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Shreveport Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 42% to 79%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for your case remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.