Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. J. Samuel Childs's 76% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the 66% office rate, 57% state rate, and 58% national rate for the same period. These figures are derived from a significant docket size, providing a statistical baseline for the judge's recent activity.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Childs'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 January 2016, J. Samuel Childs has issued 3,187 decisions on record, maintaining an overall approval rate of 70%. The yearly trend shows a pattern of approvals that remains consistent with the judge's long-term record. The most recent 12 months sit above the record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Childs'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 Downtown hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Georgia as part of the regional SSA network. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with 9 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file through July 2026. The office recorded a 66% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta Downtown
SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta Downtown, 9 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file and range from 48% to 81% in approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. For your preparation, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Childs's 76%. Four of them last decided cases in Georgia. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Atlanta region.
- 76% Approval rate, last 12 months Paul McAdam
- 77% Approval rate, last 12 months S. Charles Murray
- 77% Approval rate, last 12 months Sonya Grounds
- 81% Approval rate, last 12 months Suzanne A. Littlefield
- 76% Approval rate, last 12 months Laura L. Robinson
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Childs and the three closest side by side →
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
J. Samuel Childs's 76% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is higher than the 66% average for the Atlanta Downtown office during that same period. While this indicates a higher frequency of approvals, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
J. Samuel Childs has maintained a consistent approval pattern since 2016, with an overall rate of 70% across 3,187 decisions. While yearly fluctuations occur, the recent 12-month rate of 76% remains within a stable range for the judge. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring the process remains impartial. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
Approval rates reflect past decisions and are not a prediction of your hearing outcome. Your case success depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide to support your disability claim. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
