Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 38% approval rate for Loranzo Fleming reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 24% to 94% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North. This docket size of 596 decisions provides a look at past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Fleming. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Fleming'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 Loranzo Fleming across 596 decisions on record since November 2016 shows a variable trend. After an approval rate of 31% in 2017, the figures rose to 38% in 2018 and reached 47% in 2019. This upward movement reflects the outcomes of cases decided during this period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fleming'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 Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North hearing office serves you if you are in Georgia and the surrounding region. With 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office handles a diverse volume of disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 44%, providing context for the environment in which your hearing occurs.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Atlanta North hearing office. These judges show a wide variance in approval rates, ranging from 24% to 94% on their records 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
Loranzo Fleming has an approval rate of 38% based on 596 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 24% to 94% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Loranzo Fleming has shown an upward trend. It moved from 31% in 2017 to 38% in 2018 and 47% in 2019. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 38% approval rate for Loranzo Fleming is a reflection of past decisions and 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 case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
