Approval rates
Judge Traver maintains a 75% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the high end of the 43% to 75% range observed among the 13 judges on record at the Louisville office since 2016. This lifetime figure is derived from 1,052 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Traver. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Traver'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 record for Judge Traver shows a steady trend between 2016 and 2018. Starting with a 74% approval rate in 2016, the figures remained consistent at 75% in 2017 before reaching 78% in 2018. With 1,052 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects a stable approach to case evaluation throughout the available data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Traver'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 Louisville hearing office
The Louisville hearing office serves claimants throughout Kentucky and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a bench of 13 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 75% over their respective lifetime records.
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
Judge Traver has a lifetime approval rate of 75%, which is at the top of the range for the 13 judges on record at the Louisville office. Because approval rates across the bench vary from 43% to 75%, understanding your judge's history is a useful part of your preparation. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best fit the expectations of this office.
The approval rate for Judge Traver has held steady, moving from 74% in 2016 to 78% in 2018. This consistency across 1,052 lifetime decisions suggests a stable approach to evaluating disability claims. If you are concerned about how your specific medical conditions align with these patterns, 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 across the hearing office. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions you might face during this process.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Judge Traver has a 75% lifetime approval rate, every case is decided based on its own unique medical and vocational evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is organized to meet the specific requirements of your claim.