Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Robert Waller has a 53% approval rate since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 53%, which sits 22 points below the Mobile office's latest-period rate of 75%. These figures are drawn from a docket of 2,686 decisions on record, providing a stable view of past activity.
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 Waller'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, Robert Waller has maintained a varied approval pattern. After a period of fluctuation between 2019 and 2021, the data shows a rise in approval rates starting in 2023 and continuing through 2025. The latest period shows a 53% approval rate, which reflects a shift from the higher rates seen in the previous two years. This trend pattern suggests that recent outcomes may be influenced by changes in case mix or the specific evidence presented in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Waller'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 Mobile hearing office
Robert Waller's most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office, which serves claimants across Alabama. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 75%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your disability claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 10 of them having decided cases here in the latest file. Approval rates for this bench range from 28% to 81% on their records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Robert Waller has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. This compares to a range of 28% to 81% among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Robert Waller has fluctuated over time. After reaching a low of 45% in 2021, the rate increased to 68% in 2024 before settling at 53% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities, your work history, and how your symptoms prevent you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and the strength of your testimony. An attorney can help you evaluate your case and ensure your medical records are complete.
