Approval rates
Comparing a judge's record requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Carla L. Waters maintains a lifetime approval rate of 45%, the Phoenix Downtown office bench shows a broad range of lifetime outcomes, from 32% to 78%. In the most recent reporting period, her approval rate was 47%, which is 10 percentage points lower than the office-wide average of 57%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Waters'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, Carla L. Waters has presided over 3,987 decisions. Her yearly approval trend has remained relatively steady, with annual rates fluctuating between 38% and 49% over the last decade. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 47%, which is consistent with her long-term performance. This stability suggests a predictable approach to case evaluation, though each hearing remains unique based on the specific medical evidence you provide.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Waters'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 Phoenix Downtown hearing office
The Phoenix Downtown hearing office serves you throughout the Arizona region. With a bench of 12 judges on record, this office manages a high volume of SSDI cases. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 57%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment. You can see the Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Phoenix Downtown hearing office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 12 judges on record at this office since 2016, with 5 currently reporting in the latest SSA data. With lifetime approval rates across this bench ranging from 32% to 78%, the judge you draw can vary significantly. You can prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Carla L. Waters has a lifetime approval rate of 45%, which sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 32% to 78%. While she is one of 12 judges on record at the Phoenix Downtown office, her latest-period approval rate of 47% is 10 points lower than the office-wide average of 57%. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence for this specific bench.
Her approval rate has remained steady over her 3,987 decisions since 2016. While annual rates have fluctuated between 38% and 49%, the most recent period of 47% aligns with her historical performance. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case file.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney to prepare for any judge is a recommended strategy.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and functional limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical records are properly organized.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you identify and fill gaps in your evidence before your hearing date.