Approval rates
The approval rate for John Dodson is based on 2,196 decisions recorded between January 2016 and September 2021. When compared to the 44% to 74% approval range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the same, John Dodson sits within the established bench variance. These figures provide a view of past decisions rather than a prediction for your hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dodson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dodson'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, the approval pattern for John Dodson has shown shifts. After a steady period between 2016 and 2018, the approval rate trended upward in 2019 and 2020. While the 2021 data reflects a limited sample of 6 decisions, the overall volume of 2,196 decisions on record provides a stable view of historical decision-making. These fluctuations may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dodson'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 Livonia MI hearing office
John Dodson's most recent office on record is the Livonia MI hearing office, where the last recorded decision occurred in September 2021. This office includes a bench of 18 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Livonia MI
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Livonia MI hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 44% to 74%. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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 Dodson has an approval rate of 62% on record since 2016. This places him within the 44% to 74% approval range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the same. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for John Dodson remained steady from 2016 through 2018 before trending upward in 2019 and 2020. With 2,196 decisions on record, these trends are based on a substantial history of cases. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for the unique requirements of any hearing.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While John Dodson has a 62% approval rate on record, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
