Who decides cases at this office
The ALJ panel at this office exhibits a wide spread in allowance rates, with outcomes varying between a 22% low and an 88% high. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs evidence according to their own judicial philosophy. This variation makes thorough preparation essential, as your file must be robust enough to succeed regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn M. Embree | 86% | 17,277 | |
| 2 | Laura G. McHenry | 80% | 15,540 | |
| 3 | Robert T. Jackson Jr. | 80% | 7,473 | |
| 4 | J. S. Childs | 69% | 22,729 | |
| 5 | Harry E. Siegrist | 67% | 3,783 | |
| 6 | S. Charles Murray | 66% | 27,756 | |
| 7 | Nikki A. Flowers | 66% | 15,593 | |
| 8 | Ucheakpunwa Egemonye | 64% | 3,150 | |
| 9 | Hilton R. Miller | 60% | 27,273 | |
| 10 | Raymond M. Lykins | 57% | 2,948 | |
| 11 | Carla McMichael | 57% | 20,449 | |
| 12 | Suzanne A. Littlefield | 55% | 16,849 | |
| 13 | Karen A. Cornick-Craig | 54% | 4,766 | |
| 14 | F. J. Hughes | 52% | 4,912 | |
| 15 | Lisa B. Bentley | 47% | 4,057 | |
| 16 | Gwen Hurley | 45% | 4,986 | |
| 17 | Kyle C. Alexander | 44% | 9,891 | |
| 18 | Lisa B. Parrish | 39% | 14,130 | |
| 19 | Dale D. Glendening Jr. | 35% | 1,096 | |
| 20 | Brendan F. Flanagan | 23% | 18,841 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Atlanta Downtown, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 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
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.
Going to your hearing
Hearings at Atlanta Downtown move at a steady pace, giving you 7 months to build the strongest possible record. You should prioritize gathering updated medical records, a detailed log of your daily activities, and statements from those who witness your limitations firsthand. The hearing itself typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes, where an ALJ will preside and a vocational expert will often testify about the types of jobs available given your specific restrictions. You have the right to question this expert, which is often the most critical moment of the proceeding. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. Your final decision will arrive by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span 66 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it based on incomplete documentation. Even at offices like Atlanta where the overall allowance rate is 64%, the cases that fail often share one trait: a record that did not anticipate the vocational expert's questions. Ensuring your medical evidence directly addresses the criteria the SSA uses to determine disability is a standard part of the preparation process.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Atlanta Downtown, 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.