Who decides cases at this office
The 9 judges at this office show a moderate spread in their allowance rates, which range from 42% to 73%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This variation means your file must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of who is presiding.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry L. Williams | 64% | 274 | |
| 2 | David R. Gutierrez | 62% | 35,613 | |
| 3 | D'Lisa Simmons | 54% | 33,748 | |
| 4 | William B. Howard | 50% | 30,426 | |
| 5 | David J. Hebert | 48% | 28,237 | |
| 6 | Gerald L. Meyer | 46% | 33,904 | |
| 7 | Thomas J. Helget | 44% | 37,705 | |
| 8 | Ross Stubblefield | 43% | 38,594 | |
| 9 | Patricia C. Henry | 41% | 5,749 | |
| 10 | William Sharp | 35% | 29,701 | |
| 11 | Daniel E. Whitney | 34% | 30,170 |
How long you'll wait
At Houston North, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 6 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically 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.
Going to your hearing
Hearings at Houston North move faster than at many other locations, so you must submit your updated medical records well before the deadline. You will likely spend time before an ALJ, who will weigh your testimony against the reports of a Vocational Expert. This expert will testify about whether jobs exist that accommodate your specific physical or mental limits. To prepare, organize your medication list, a log of your daily activities, and any new statements from your doctors. The Social Security Administration will mail the final decision weeks after the hearing concludes. Your goal is to ensure the record reflects your reality before you walk into the room.
Hearings at Houston North come up quickly, leaving little room for error once your date is set. Identifying gaps in your medical record and preparing for the specific questions a Vocational Expert might ask about your ability to work is essential. Claimants who arrive with a well-organized file are better positioned to address the judge's concerns directly.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Houston North, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.