Approval rates
The 54% approval rate for Mark Dowd reflects his total record since 2016, which can be measured against the 13% to 77% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. This docket of 686 decisions provides the statistical basis for these figures. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dowd. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dowd'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 Mark Dowd has remained steady at 54% across his 686 decisions on record since January 2016. In 2016, he maintained a 54% approval rate over 524 decisions, and in 2017, he maintained a 54% approval rate over 290 decisions. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation during his time on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dowd'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
Mark Dowd's most recent office on record is the Knoxville hearing office, with his last recorded decision there in September 2017. The bench at this location includes 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville
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 Knoxville, with approval rates ranging from 13% to 77% on their since-2016 records. Because approval rates vary across this bench, understanding the local context 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
Mark Dowd has an approval rate of 54% based on 686 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 13% to 77% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Mark Dowd remained steady at 54% throughout his record from January 2016 to September 2017. This consistency indicates a stable decision-making pattern over the period covered by our data. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your case evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, working with an attorney who understands the local bench can help you prepare for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Mark Dowd will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you strengthen your case before your hearing date.
