Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to compare the judge's performance against the broader bench at the Atlanta North hearing office. While the judge maintains a 61% approval rate on record since 2017, recent data shows a 40% approval rate during the latest reporting period. These figures are based on a volume of 2,921 decisions on record.
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 Conlon'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 James Conlon has shifted over the 2,921 decisions on record since 2017. The latest reporting period shows a 40% approval rate, which is 4 points below the 44% approval rate for the Atlanta North office during the same period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Conlon'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
James Conlon's most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office. This office 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%.
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 hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 24% to 94% on their since-2016 records.
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
Judge Conlon's 61% approval rate on record since 2017 sits within the 24% to 94% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a case that meets the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval patterns. While the judge has a 61% approval rate on record since 2017, the latest reporting period shows a 40% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions Judge Conlon or any other judge may ask.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Judge Conlon has decided 2,921 cases on record since 2017, and your individual result will depend primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to strengthen your claim.
