Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at consistent data windows. You can compare Katherine Weatherly's 57% approval rate on record since 2016 against the 32% to 81% range observed among the bench at the Eugene hearing office. Latest-period metrics show the judge's approval rate at 58%, which aligns with the office-wide latest-period average. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from thousands of decisions.
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 Weatherly'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 January 2016, the judge has issued 3,976 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, moving from 48% in 2016 to a peak of 64% in 2020, before reaching 59% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This pattern reflects a consistent approach to evidence evaluation over time. The latest period shows no significant deviation from the long-term average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Weatherly'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 Eugene hearing office
Katherine Weatherly's most recent office on record is the Eugene hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Eugene
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 81% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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
Katherine Weatherly's 57% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 32% to 81% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Eugene hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 48% in 2016 and reaching 59% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This trend indicates a consistent approach to case evaluation, and an attorney can help you understand how your evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and limitations, and having an attorney can help you present this information clearly to the judge.
The 57% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
