Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Guy E. Fletcher's 63% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a stable baseline, which you can compare against the 32% to 78% range of other judges at the Phoenix Downtown office. In the latest reporting period, Guy E. Fletcher maintained a 73% approval rate, which sits 16 points above the office average of 57%. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
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 Fletcher'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 3,765 decisions on record since 2016 reveal an upward trend in approval rates for Guy E. Fletcher. While the rate remained between 58% and 64% from 2016 through 2023, recent years show an increase, reaching 75% in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate of 73% suggests this pattern is continuing. This shift may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fletcher'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 Phoenix Downtown hearing office
Guy E. Fletcher's most recent office on record is the Phoenix Downtown hearing office, which serves claimants across Arizona. This office hosts a bench of 12 judges, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 57%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Phoenix Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Phoenix Downtown office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 78% on their since-2016 records. 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
Guy E. Fletcher's 63% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 32% to 78% range of the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is Phoenix Downtown. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this office.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. After holding a steady approval rate between 58% and 64% for several years, Guy E. Fletcher's rate increased to 70% in 2024 and 75% in 2025. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney to prepare a robust case is the best way to ensure you are ready for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your evidence.
Approval rates are a probability cloud based on past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you determine if your case is well-positioned for a favorable decision.
