Approval rates
The 70% approval rate for James E. Deen Jr. is based on 222 decisions on record since 2016. This is compared against the 42% to 82% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in the past.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Deen Jr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Deen Jr.'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 70% approval rate for James E. Deen Jr. is derived from 222 decisions on record between January 2016 and September 2016. Throughout this period, the approval rate remained steady at 70%. This stability reflects a consistent approach to the evidence presented in those cases.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Deen Jr.'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 Chattanooga hearing office
The Chattanooga hearing office is the most recent office on record for James E. Deen Jr. as of September 2016. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of medical evidence and testimony remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Chattanooga
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office, with individual approval rates ranging from 42% to 82% since 2016. Because of this variance, understanding the broader office environment is helpful for your preparation.
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
James E. Deen Jr. has a 70% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 42% to 82% range of approval rates for the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for James E. Deen Jr. was 70% during the period of January 2016 through September 2016. The rate remained steady throughout this record window. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the hearing office. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A 70% approval rate on record since 2016 indicates how James E. Deen Jr. decided past cases, but it is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends on the evidence you provide. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
