Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their peers. The 67% approval rate for Michael D. Anderson is based on 2,101 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 21% to 92% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Anderson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Anderson'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
The approval trend for Michael D. Anderson has remained relatively steady since 2016, with minor fluctuations across the 2,101 decisions on record. While the rate reached 71% in 2017, it saw a slight decline to 62% in 2019 before stabilizing near the long-term average in 2021. These yearly shifts are common and often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Anderson'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 Montgomery hearing office
Michael D. Anderson's most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office, which serves you across Alabama. This office is part of a regional network tasked with processing disability appeals. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench brings a wide variety of experience to the hearing process.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 92% on their since-2016 records. Nine of these judges decided cases here in the SSA's latest file.
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
Michael D. Anderson has an approval rate of 67% based on 2,101 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 21% to 92% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Michael D. Anderson has remained relatively steady since 2016. While there was a variance between 62% and 71% across different years, the judge's long-term average of 67% across 2,101 decisions on record indicates a consistent pattern. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge, and an attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. You will likely be asked questions about your medical history, daily limitations, and work experience. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are properly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of medical evidence and testimony is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
