Approval rates
Judge Fletcher has maintained a consistent approval record over his 10-year tenure, currently outpacing both the Phoenix office average and the national average. With 22,234 lifetime decisions, the data provides a clear look at his historical decision-making. While his recent approval rate of 75% shows a strong trend, remember that every case is unique. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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
Over the past decade, Judge Fletcher has shown a steady approval trend. Starting with a 61% approval rate in 2016, his annual figures have reached 74% in 2025. This trajectory reflects his approach to evaluating evidence and disability criteria. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity 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.
Hearing with Judge Fletcher? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Phoenix hearing office
The Phoenix Hearing Office serves a large population across Arizona, managing a high volume of SSDI claims with a bench of 6 administrative law judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 56%, which serves as a baseline for the region. You should be prepared for a formal administrative process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Phoenix Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The Phoenix bench is diverse, with lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges ranging from 36% to 78%. Because of this variance, the specific judge assigned to your case can be a factor in the hearing process. You can view the full roster on the Phoenix Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.