Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 43% approval rate covers the entire period since 2016, his latest-period rate of 49% provides a more current view of his decision-making. This latest figure sits 6 points below the Bronx office average of 55%. These statistics are based on a significant volume of cases, providing a stable look at past trends.
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 Carlton'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
Since December 2016, the judge has issued 2,354 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuations, with approval rates moving from 62% in 2017 to 37% in 2018 and 2019, before reaching 49% in the latest period. This recent trend indicates a shift compared to the long-term average on record, reflecting evolving evidence requirements or changes in the types of cases heard.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Carlton'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 Bronx hearing office
The Bronx hearing office is a high-volume location. With 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it manages a diverse caseload of disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, which provides context for the local environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Bronx
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Bronx. Approval rates for this bench range from 43% to 84% on their records since 2016. 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
John Carlton has an approval rate of 43% on his record since 2016. This sits within the range of 43% to 84% observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Bronx. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the judge's approval rate has fluctuated over time. After an initial 62% rate in 2017, the rate settled into a lower range before rising to 49% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have your case fully prepared regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you build a strong case to present to any judge.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case to present to any judge.
