Approval rates
When evaluating your case, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to broader benchmarks. Harry L. Williams Jr. has maintained a 61% approval rate over a decade of service, consistently performing near or above the office and national averages. This data is derived from 12,450 lifetime decisions, providing a significant sample size for understanding his general approach. These figures reflect historical trends rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
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 Williams Jr.'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
Over his 10 years on the bench, the approval patterns for Harry L. Williams Jr. have shown fluctuations, reaching a high of 68% in 2020 and 2022. His recent performance remains steady, with a 64% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating evidence and medical documentation. These trends reflect a continuation of his established decision-making pattern over his long tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Williams Jr.'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.
Hearing with Judge Williams Jr.? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Houston North hearing office
The Houston North Hearing Office serves a large population of applicants across Texas, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the regional caseload. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can find more information on the Houston North Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Houston North Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the office's 6 ALJs range from 43% to 62%. Because you cannot choose your judge, you should focus on the strength of your medical evidence and testimony.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.