Approval rates
The approval rate for J. Doug Wolfe is based on 3,760 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2025. This figure provides a statistical baseline when compared to the 4 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, who maintain a range of 28% to 85% on their since-2016 records. These numbers reflect the volume of cases handled by the bench over this period.
Judge Wolfe is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Wolfe isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Wolfe'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, J. Doug Wolfe has maintained a consistent volume of activity, with 3,760 total decisions on record. The yearly approval rate has fluctuated, reaching a high of 79% in 2020 before settling into a more moderate range in recent years. The most recent data from 2025 shows a 72% approval rate over 120 decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wolfe'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 Salt Lake City hearing office
The Salt Lake City Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for J. Doug Wolfe as of September 2025. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Salt Lake City
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Salt Lake City, 4 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 4 judges range from 28% to 85% on their since-2016 records.
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
J. Doug Wolfe has a 68% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 28% to 85% range established by the 4 judges at the Salt Lake City office who are in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with this judge's history.
The approval rate for J. Doug Wolfe has varied year-over-year, ranging from a low of 63% in 2017 to a high of 79% in 2020. With 3,760 total decisions on record through 2025, the rate has remained relatively steady in recent years. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. J. Doug Wolfe has approved 68% of the 3,760 cases he has decided since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim to ensure you are fully prepared.
