Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office shows a moderate spread in allowance rates, which range from 29% to 66% among active judges. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This variation means your file must be robust enough to stand on its own merits regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ollie Garmon | 95% | 7,119 | |
| 2 | Larry A. Auerbach | 86% | 1,937 | |
| 3 | Richard P. McCully | 84% | 4,788 | |
| 4 | Calvin Washington | 76% | 10,267 | |
| 5 | O. Lisa Dabreu | 75% | 1,868 | |
| 6 | Sheila Lowther | 71% | 6,671 | |
| 7 | Verley J. Spivey | 68% | 6,387 | |
| 8 | Barry L. Williams | 67% | 3,873 | |
| 9 | James Conlon | 64% | 19,518 | |
| 10 | Laurie A. Bedell | 62% | 28,132 | |
| 11 | Steve Lamb | 61% | 5,201 | |
| 12 | Frederick R. Waitsman | 60% | 5,851 | |
| 13 | John S. Lamb | 60% | 2,723 | |
| 14 | Robin R. Palenske | 57% | 10,998 | |
| 15 | Todd S. Colarusso | 56% | 32,226 | |
| 16 | Joan E. Parks Saunders | 55% | 681 | |
| 17 | McArthur Allen | 55% | 2,738 | |
| 18 | Curtis R. Boren | 53% | 17,266 | |
| 19 | Gregory Fons | 46% | 21,939 | |
| 20 | Steven J. Ehlenbeck | 45% | 9,068 | |
| 21 | Tracy Henry | 40% | 6,643 | |
| 22 | Loranzo Fleming | 39% | 5,242 | |
| 23 | William Callahan | 32% | 21,796 | |
| 24 | Cynthia G. Weaver | 22% | 21,006 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Atlanta North, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 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
Your hearing at the Atlanta North office involves an ALJ reviewing your claim and hearing testimony. You should arrive with updated medical records that capture any changes in your condition since your initial denial, as this is the most important evidence you can provide. A vocational expert will often testify about whether jobs exist that fit your specific physical or mental limitations, and you will have the opportunity to question them. Be prepared to discuss your daily activities and how your symptoms impact your ability to work. Once the hearing concludes, you will receive a written decision by mail.
With a panel allowance rate that spans from 29% to 66%, the judge assigned to your case can influence the hearing process. Preparing a record that addresses potential vocational hurdles early helps you move your case toward a more predictable presentation regardless of the specific judge presiding.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Atlanta 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.