Approval rates
When evaluating your potential hearing outcome, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to the broader landscape. Major Williams Jr. maintains an 84% lifetime approval rate, which stands in contrast to the latest office average of 65% and the national average of 58%. This data is drawn from a docket of 10,626 lifetime decisions. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
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 7 years on the bench, Major Williams Jr. has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. His approval rates have remained steady, ranging from 81% to 88% for most of his tenure. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating evidence. The latest reporting period reflects a continuation of this pattern, showing that his decision-making remains well-aligned with his long-term historical average.
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.? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Oakland hearing office
The Oakland Hearing Office serves a large population in California, managing a high volume of SSDI cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an overall latest approval rate of 65%. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of medical and vocational evidence. To learn more about the local bench, visit the Oakland Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Oakland Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary, ranging from 47% to 84%. While you may be assigned to any of the 6 judges at this office, the core requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can find more information on the Oakland Hearing Office page.
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.