Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While Linda Thomasson maintains a 66% lifetime approval rate, her most recent reporting period shows a 70% approval rate. This latest figure sits 6 percentage points above the Portland OR office average of 64%. These metrics are derived from 4,214 lifetime decisions, providing a robust sample for analysis. 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 Thomasson'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, Linda Thomasson's approval rate has shown a notable evolution. After starting at 38% in 2016, the rate trended upward, peaking at 83% in 2021 before stabilizing in recent years. The current 70% approval rate in the latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern. This data, based on 4,214 lifetime decisions, suggests a judge who has refined her approach to evidence over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thomasson'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 Portland OR hearing office
The Portland OR hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region, managing a diverse caseload of disability applications. With 12 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 64%. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. You can see the Portland OR Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. The Portland OR bench includes 12 judges on record since 2016, with 6 currently reporting in the latest SSA data. Lifetime approval rates across this office range from 34% to 66%. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent 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
In the most recent reporting period, Linda Thomasson's 70% approval rate is 6 percentage points higher than the Portland OR office average of 64%. While this comparison is useful, remember that every case is unique. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this judge.
Yes, the data shows a clear shift. Her approval rate rose from 38% in 2016 to a peak of 83% in 2021, before settling at 70% in the most recent period. This trend highlights the importance of having current, well-documented medical evidence for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this judge's specific bench.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical record is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Having an attorney can help you navigate these proceedings and ensure your testimony aligns with your medical evidence.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Linda Thomasson has approved 2,774 of 4,214 cases on record. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses relative to these trends.