Approval rates
Judge Bedell maintains a lifetime approval rate of 62% based on 22,814 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, this rate reached 66%, which is 13 percentage points higher than the current Atlanta North office average of 49%. These figures provide statistical context based on the volume of cases handled over a 10-year tenure. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting outcomes for your specific hearing.
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 Bedell'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Bedell has shown a consistent approach to disability claims. The yearly trend data indicates a steady pattern of approvals, with recent performance showing a 66% approval rate in the latest period. This recent activity remains well-aligned with the long-term lifetime average of 62%. The stability of these figures suggests a consistent decision-making process that has remained steady across varying annual case volumes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bedell'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 Bedell? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Georgia and the surrounding region. It is a high-volume office where judges manage complex caseloads to ensure timely hearings. The office currently reports a latest-period approval rate of 49%, which highlights the importance of thorough evidence preparation. You can see the Atlanta North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Bedell is essentially random. Within the Atlanta North Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 22% to 65%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the evidence, the specific judge you draw matters for your hearing experience. You can view the full roster of judges at the Atlanta North 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.