Approval rates
Comparing James Dixon's performance requires looking at both long-term records and recent trends. Since 2016, James Dixon has decided 3,912 cases, while the broader Knoxville bench shows a wide range of approval rates from 13% to 77%. In the most recent reporting period, the 63% approval rate sits 15 points above the office average of 48%. These figures reflect historical patterns rather than future outcomes.
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 Dixon'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 James Dixon has fluctuated across the 3,912 decisions on record since 2016. After seeing a low of 43% in 2019, the approval rate has trended upward in recent years, reaching 65% in 2025 and 63% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent performance remains higher than the long-term average, reflecting changes in case evidence or the specific types of claims assigned.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dixon'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 Knoxville hearing office
James Dixon's most recent office on record is the Knoxville hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a diverse bench of 16 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 48%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Knoxville hearing office, and 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 13% to 77% 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
James Dixon's 54% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 13% to 77% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. In the latest reporting period, the 63% approval rate is 15 points higher than the office average of 48%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. While the rate was 51% in 2016, it reached a low of 43% in 2019 before trending upward to 63% in the most recent partial year of 2026. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of who is assigned.
The 54% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for your hearing.
