Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 36% approval rate for Geoffrey S. Casher reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 36% to 81% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from a large volume of cases. 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 Casher. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Casher'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 rate for Geoffrey S. Casher has shown variation across the 2,651 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching 38% in 2016, 42% in 2017, and 42% in 2018, the annual approval rate shifted to 35% in 2019, 34% in 2020, 35% in 2021, and 27% in 2022. This trend indicates a shift in decision-making patterns over the six-year period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Casher'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 Savannah hearing office
Geoffrey S. Casher's most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Savannah
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 36% to 81% on their since-2016 records. Because every judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, the judge you draw matters.
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
Geoffrey S. Casher has an approval rate of 36% based on 2,651 decisions on record since 2016. This rate is within the 36% to 81% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated. While the rate was 38% in 2016 and reached 42% in 2017 and 2018, it declined to 27% by 2022. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how these patterns might impact your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome, and an attorney can help you navigate the process.
The 36% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in the outcome. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present the strongest possible case to Geoffrey S. Casher.
