Houston North Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Texas · SSA Region 06
Approval Rate
55.9%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
233 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
4,190
awaiting hearing
ALJs
10
active judges
Houston North ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Gutierrez | 70.3% | 29.7% | 64.8% | 509 | 611 |
| D'lisa Simmons | 69.1% | 30.9% | 64.3% | 582 | 706 |
| Harry L. Williams | 63.5% | 36.5% | 51.6% | 219 | 315 |
| William B Howard | 59.6% | 40.4% | 55.5% | 391 | 475 |
| Williams JR. | 59.5% | 40.5% | 45.2% | 42 | 50 |
| Gerald L Meyer | 53.4% | 46.6% | 49.4% | 474 | 581 |
| Thomas J Helget | 52.3% | 47.7% | 48.3% | 547 | 659 |
| David Hebert | 50.1% | 49.9% | 44.8% | 397 | 483 |
| Ross Stubblefield | 46.4% | 53.6% | 42.6% | 704 | 825 |
| William Sharp | 38.9% | 61.1% | 35% | 360 | 444 |
Former Judges at Houston North
This judge has no recorded decisions at Houston North in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.
| Judge | Last Decisions Reported | Approval Rate | Total Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel E Whitney | May 2024 | 30.2% | 225 |
Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.
About the Houston North Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Houston North hearing office in Texas as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 06, 10 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location. With 10 ALJs, this is one of the larger hearing offices in the system, handling a substantial volume of disability cases each fiscal year.
The office's average approval rate is 55.9%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 38.9% to 70.3%, a 31-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 233 days. There are currently 4,190 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 419 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 50.1%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.
How to Interpret Houston North Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Houston North, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 8 months and 233 days average processing time, claimants at Houston North can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Houston North have collectively issued 4,225 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 423 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 42 to 704 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Houston North Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Houston North?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 38.9% to 70.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 50.1%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Houston North?
How long is the wait time at Houston North?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
What is the fully favorable rate at Houston North?
How does Houston North compare to other offices in the state?
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