Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 53%, his latest-period approval rate is 57%. This latest figure compares to an office-wide rate of 55%, a state rate of 57%, and a national rate of 58%. With thousands of decisions on record, these figures provide a stable look at past patterns.
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 Dougherty'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 January 2016, the approval rate for Brian Dougherty has shown a varied trend. After hovering near 50% for several years, the rate saw an uptick in 2023 and 2024 before shifting in the most recent periods. The latest-period approval rate of 57% reflects a continuation of this recent activity compared to the long-term average. These fluctuations often mirror changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dougherty'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
Brian Dougherty's most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 14 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
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 this one, and 10 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 29% to 76% on their since-2016 records.
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
Brian Dougherty has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. Across the bench of 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN, approval rates range from 29% to 76%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Brian Dougherty has fluctuated over time. While his rate on record since 2016 is 53%, his latest-period approval rate is 57%. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases assigned to the judge. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and limitations from the judge and potentially a vocational expert. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to present the strongest case possible.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Brian Dougherty's 53% rate provides context, your success depends primarily on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you evaluate how to best present your medical records to meet the SSA's criteria.
