Approval rates
The 55% approval rate for Karen A. Cornick-Craig is based on 543 decisions on record since 2016. This figure can be measured against the 23% to 86% range seen among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta Downtown hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cornick-Craig. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cornick-Craig'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 Karen A. Cornick-Craig was 54% across 518 decisions in 2016 and 59% across 149 decisions in 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cornick-Craig'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 has seen 22 judges on record since 2016. You can view the full roster on the Atlanta Downtown hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta Downtown
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta Downtown hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 23% to 86% 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
Karen A. Cornick-Craig has a 55% approval rate on record since 2016, which sits within the 23% to 86% range for the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta Downtown hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate was 54% in 2016 and 59% in 2017, based on 543 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you prepare your evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of your assigned judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony regarding your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
The 55% approval rate on record for Karen A. Cornick-Craig describes past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
