Approval rates
Comparing Timothy Turner's approval rate to his peers provides context for your upcoming hearing. His 68% approval rate on record since December 2017 sits within the 43% to 75% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis. In the most recent reporting period, his 70% approval rate outperformed the office average of 64%, the state average of 60%, and the national average of 58%.
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 Turner'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 December 2017, Timothy Turner has issued 2,030 decisions on record. His approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 78% in 2018 before moving to 62% in 2020 and 2021. Following this period, the rate reached 77% in 2024 and settled at 70% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Turner'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 Indianapolis hearing office
Timothy Turner's most recent office on record is Indianapolis, which serves you across Indiana. This office is staffed by a bench of 20 judges, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 64%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where evidence quality remains the primary factor in a favorable decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 75% on their records since 2016.
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
Timothy Turner's 68% approval rate on record since December 2017 is positioned within the 43% to 75% range of the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis. In the most recent reporting period, his 70% approval rate was 6 percentage points higher than the office average of 64%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might apply to your specific case.
Yes, the data shows variation in Timothy Turner's approval rate since December 2017. While he reached a high of 78% in 2018, the rate moved to 62% in 2020 and 2021 before rising again to 77% in 2024. The most recent fiscal year-to-date rate of 70% suggests a stable pattern, but an attorney can help you evaluate how your medical evidence aligns with these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare a strong case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. Having an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented to the judge.
