Approval rates
Comparing David W. Thompson's performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While his lifetime approval rate is 36%, his latest-period rate of 37% sits 15 percentage points below the Salt Lake City office average of 52%. These figures provide a snapshot of how his decisions align with local trends.
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 Thompson'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
David W. Thompson's approval rate has shown fluctuations since 2016, moving between a low of 30% in 2023 and a high of 42% in 2025. With 4,379 total decisions on record, the data reflects a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim. The latest-period rate of 37% suggests a return toward his long-term average after recent volatility.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thompson'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 Salt Lake City hearing office
The Salt Lake City hearing office serves you and other claimants across Utah and surrounding areas. It maintains a bench of 9 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%. You can see the Salt Lake City 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 you cannot choose your judge. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016, 4 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 85% 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
David W. Thompson's latest-period approval rate of 37% is 15 percentage points lower than the Salt Lake City office average of 52%. Because judges have different approaches to evidence, having an attorney help you prepare for the specific requirements of your assigned judge can be beneficial.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over his record starting in 2016, ranging from 30% to 42% annually. While these shifts occur, his lifetime average remains 36% across 4,379 decisions. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for your hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and why your condition prevents you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. David W. Thompson has approved 36% of cases over his career, but every case is decided on its own merits. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.