Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While you may note that Laurie A. Bedell maintains a 61% approval rate on her record since 2016, her latest-period performance shows a 62% approval rate, which sits 18 percentage points above the Atlanta North office average of 44% for that same period. These figures are derived from a volume of 3,885 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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
The approval trend for Laurie A. Bedell has varied since 2016, moving from 56% in the initial year to 62% in the most recent period. This pattern is based on 3,885 total decisions on record. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, indicating that the approach to evaluating evidence has remained consistent over the last decade.
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.
About the Atlanta North hearing office
Laurie A. Bedell's most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 44%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North office, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 24% to 94% on their since-2016 records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
In the latest reporting period, Laurie A. Bedell's 62% approval rate is 18 percentage points higher than the Atlanta North office average of 44%. While this data is helpful for context, an attorney can help you prepare your case based on the specific requirements of your claim.
Laurie A. Bedell's approval rate has fluctuated between 54% and 68% over the years since 2016. Her latest-period rate of 62% remains consistent with her long-term average of 61% across 3,885 decisions. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Every claim is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.
