Approval rates
The 48% approval rate for Cheryl Tompkin reflects all decisions on record since October 2016. This can be measured against the 26% to 84% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland. This range highlights the variance in decision patterns across the local bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Tompkin. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Tompkin'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
The approval rate for Cheryl Tompkin shows a shift over the 1,176 decisions on record since October 2016. After an approval rate of 73% in 2017, the figures declined and stabilized, remaining between 41% and 42% from 2019 through 2021. This trend indicates a consistent approach in the later years of the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tompkin'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 Oakland hearing office
Cheryl Tompkin's most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office, which serves you in California. This office is part of a region where 16 judges have their most recent record. You can expect a standard hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oakland hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 26% to 84% since 2016. Six of these judges decided cases in the most recent SSA file.
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
Cheryl Tompkin has an approval rate of 48% since 2016. This sits within the 26% to 84% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Cheryl Tompkin shifted from 73% in 2017 to a range of 41% to 42% between 2019 and 2021. Understanding these historical patterns is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot choose your 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.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to present the strongest possible case.
The 48% approval rate for Cheryl Tompkin is a summary of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
