Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Charles Walters's 85% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the Dallas North OHO office rate of 63%, the Texas state rate of 56%, and the national rate of 58% for the same period. These figures are based on 420 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Walters'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, Charles Walters has issued 4,253 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows a decline from 96% in 2016 to a low of 74% in 2022, followed by a recovery in recent years. The most recent 12 months to July 31, 2026, show an 85% approval rate, which sits below the 88% record since 2016. The most recent 12 months continue this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Walters'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 Dallas North OHO hearing office
The Dallas North OHO is the most recent office on record for Charles Walters, with data current through July 2026. This office serves you in Texas and the surrounding region. Over the 12-month window ending July 31, 2026, the office maintained an approval rate of 63%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented. See the Dallas North OHO Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas North OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 11 judges who decided cases at the Dallas North OHO in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 20% to 98% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 11 of them deciding cases in the latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Walters's 85%. Three of them last decided cases in Texas. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Dallas region.
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months Helen F. Strong
- 87% Approval rate, last 12 months Peter F. Gazda
- 88% Approval rate, last 12 months Joseph Liken
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months Mary Abbondondelo
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months Jodi B. Levine
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Walters and the three closest side by side →
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
Charles Walters's 85% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is higher than the 63% office average for the same period. Among the 11 judges who decided cases at this office in the latest file, approval rates range from 20% to 98%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Charles Walters's approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 96% in 2016 and reaching 85% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. While the rate has shifted, it remains a reflection of past decisions rather than a guarantee of future outcomes. A qualified 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 using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any judge you might draw.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file, including medical records and vocational testimony. You will have the opportunity to testify about your limitations and how they impact your ability to work. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
