Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. The 72% approval rate for Janice Ulan is based on 688 decisions on record since 2016, placing her within the range of the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. This data reflects a significant volume of cases, offering a stable look at past decision-making patterns.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Ulan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Ulan'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, Janice Ulan has maintained a consistent approval pattern across 688 decisions. The data shows a peak in 2017 at 77%, followed by 74% in 2018 and 67% in 2019. This fluctuation is common in disability hearings and often relates to changes in the specific mix of medical evidence or case complexity presented to the court.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ulan'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 Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Maryland and the surrounding region. As of the most recent records, this office maintains a bench of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal administrative process where the quality of your medical documentation is the primary factor in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. Because every judge brings a unique perspective to the evidence, the specific judge assigned to your case is a variable you cannot control.
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
Janice Ulan has an approval rate of 72% based on 688 decisions on record since 2016. This places her within the broader range of 32% to 79% observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Janice Ulan has seen minor variations, starting at 69% in 2016 and reaching 77% in 2017, before settling at 67% in 2019. These shifts are typical and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard rather than a fundamental change in judicial philosophy. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best 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 your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Janice Ulan has a 72% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends on the specific medical documentation and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
