Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. John R. Daughtry's 62% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 29% to 76% range of his peers at the Franklin TN office. In the most recent reporting period, his 59% approval rate compares to a 55% office-wide rate, a 57% state-wide rate, and a 58% national average. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your hearing preparation.
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 Daughtry'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 2016, John R. Daughtry has issued 3,910 decisions. His yearly approval trend shows a 67% rate in 2016, 72% in 2017, 65% in 2018, 61% in 2019, 58% in 2020, 54% in 2021, 58% in 2022, 60% in 2023, 63% in 2024, 64% in 2025, and 59% in 2026. This pattern reflects his decision-making activity over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Daughtry'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 Franklin TN hearing office
John R. Daughtry's most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the surrounding region in Tennessee and maintains a bench of 14 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 55%, providing a local benchmark for your claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN
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 Franklin TN office, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates for this bench vary significantly, ranging from 29% to 76% since 2016.
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
John R. Daughtry's 62% approval rate since 2016 is situated within the 29% to 76% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards often seen in this office.
John R. Daughtry's approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 67% in 2016 and reaching 59% in the most recent partial year of 2026. While these trends provide context, they do not dictate the outcome of your specific case. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your medical evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Franklin TN office. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and functional limitations from the judge and potentially a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure you clearly communicate your limitations.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While John R. Daughtry has approved 62% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to support your claim.
