Approval rates
Judge Creson maintains an 81% lifetime approval rate, which stands 23 percentage points above the national average of 58%. When compared to the latest office-wide performance in Memphis, his approval rate is 27 points higher than the local average. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,991 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Creson'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
Over your 2 years on the bench, Judge Creson has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. His approval rate shows a high level of consistency, with recent reporting periods reflecting a continuation of his established decision-making style. This stability suggests that the judge relies on a predictable framework when evaluating the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Creson'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.
Hearing with Judge Creson? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Memphis hearing office
The Memphis Hearing Office serves a large population across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office processes thousands of cases annually to ensure timely hearings. The office-wide latest approval rate currently sits at 54%, reflecting the diverse nature of cases heard in this region. You can visit the Memphis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Creson is essentially random. Within the Memphis Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 48% to 81%. This variance highlights why it is essential to focus on the specific medical evidence in your file rather than the judge's identity alone. You can find more information on the Memphis Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.