Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's 78% approval rate covers the entire period since January 2016, the latest-period data provides a snapshot of recent activity. In the most recent reporting period, Donna L. Walker maintained an 83% approval rate, which stands above the Spokane office's 69% rate. These figures are based on 3,997 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Walker'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 Donna L. Walker has shown an upward trend across the 3,997 decisions on record since January 2016. Starting at 64% in 2016, the annual approval rate reached 92% in 2025. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows an 83% approval rate, which remains consistent with recent performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Walker'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 Spokane hearing office
Donna L. Walker's most recent office on record is the Spokane hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Washington and the surrounding region. With a bench of 7 judges, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 69%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Spokane
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Spokane hearing office, and 4 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 48% to 78% on their since-2016 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
Donna L. Walker's 78% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the top of the range for the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is Spokane, where rates vary from 48% to 78%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has trended from 64% in 2016 to 83% in the latest reporting period. This shift reflects a pattern of decisions over the 3,997 cases on record. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to the specific facts of your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process 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 hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and daily limitations by the judge or a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
