Approval rates
Judge Thompson's approval rate is measured against the latest reporting period to provide a current snapshot of her decision-making. In the most recent period, her 80% approval rate outpaces the Los Angeles Downtown office average of 62% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a high volume of cases, providing a stable basis for statistical comparison. 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 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
Over a decade on the bench, Judge Thompson has shown a consistent trend in her approval patterns. After starting with rates in the mid-60% range, her approval frequency has trended upward, reaching 81% in the most recent 2025 data. With 21,021 lifetime decisions, she has a well-established record. The recent uptick in approvals may reflect changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in recent filings.
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.
Hearing with Judge Thompson? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office
The Los Angeles Downtown hearing office serves a large population across Southern California, managing a high volume of Social Security Disability Insurance claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 62%. You should expect a professional environment focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your claim. You can find more information on the Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. At the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary widely, ranging from 36% to 76%. This variance highlights why understanding your specific judge's history is a vital part of your preparation. The office's 6 ALJs provide a broad range of outcomes for your review.
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.