Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's recent decisions align with broader trends. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Michelle Thompson's 87% approval rate sits above the 70% office average, the 60% state average, and the 58% national average. These figures are based on 397 decisions during this period. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
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 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
Since 2016, Michelle Thompson has issued 3,814 decisions, with an overall approval rate of 74%. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 64% in 2016 to 86% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While the annual approval rate has varied, the most recent 12 months sit above the record since 2016.
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 Los Angeles Downtown hearing office
The Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office serves you in California and the surrounding region. As of the most recent record in July 2026, this office maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office recorded a 70% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. See the Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Los Angeles Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 55% to 87% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 4 of them deciding cases here in SSA's latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Thompson's 87%. One of them last decided cases in California. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's San Francisco region and other regions.
- 91% Approval rate, last 12 months Aubri G. Masterson
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months Larry E. Johnson
- 87% Approval rate, last 12 months Peter F. Gazda
- 87% Approval rate, last 12 months S. A. Bryant
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months James S. Elkins
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 Thompson 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, Michelle Thompson's 87% approval rate is at the top of the range for the 4 judges who decided cases at the Los Angeles Downtown office in SSA's latest file, which spans from 55% to 87%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends may impact your hearing strategy.
Michelle Thompson's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 64% in 2016 and reaching 86% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While the rate has moved over time, an attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing regardless of these historical patterns.
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 for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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 critical factor in your claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
