Approval rates
Judge Barker's approval rate is evaluated against the latest performance metrics from the Knoxville Hearing Office, the state of Tennessee, and national benchmarks. While the office average sits at 56%, Judge Barker has historically maintained a rate 22 points higher than the office average. These figures are derived from a docket of 840 lifetime decisions accumulated during his tenure. You can find more information on the Knoxville Hearing Office page.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Barker'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
Over his 1 year on the bench, Judge Barker has established a clear record of decision-making. His approval rate of 78% remained steady throughout his reporting period, showing little volatility in how he evaluates claims. This pattern suggests a stable approach to evidence review and your testimony. The data reflects a consistent judicial philosophy that has remained reliable throughout his time in the Social Security Administration system.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barker'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.
Hearing with Judge Barker? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Knoxville hearing office
The Knoxville Hearing Office serves a significant population of people across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 56%. You can expect a rigorous review process focused on your medical documentation and vocational evidence. You can see the Knoxville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Knoxville Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 53% to 78%. Because of this variance, understanding the broader office environment is as important as knowing your specific judge. You can learn more about the office's performance on the Knoxville Hearing Office page.
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.