Approval rates
The approval rates for Gregory Fons reflect a career-long record compared against the broader bench at the Atlanta North office. While his lifetime approval rate stands at 44%, recent data shows a 25% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 19 percentage points below the office-wide average of 44%. These figures represent historical trends rather than a prediction for 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 Fons'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 2017, the decision pattern for Gregory Fons has shown notable shifts. After starting with a 64% approval rate in 2017, the annual figures have fluctuated, reaching 50% in 2023 before trending to 25% in the most recent period. With 3,208 total decisions on record, these trends provide a view of how his approach has evolved over time. The recent decline in approval rates reflects the most recent reporting period's outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fons'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North hearing office serves you throughout the Georgia region. It is staffed by a bench of 24 judges on record, maintaining an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 44%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. For more information, see the Atlanta North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. There are 24 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 24% to 94% over their respective careers. You should prepare your case based on your own medical evidence regardless of which judge is assigned to you.
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
Gregory Fons has a lifetime approval rate of 44% across 3,208 decisions. This places him within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 24% to 94%. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you understand how to present your specific medical evidence to this judge.
Yes, the approval rate for Gregory Fons has fluctuated since 2017. While he reached a 50% approval rate as recently as 2023, the latest reporting period shows a 25% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare a strategy that addresses these recent trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the process random. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you organize your case for the 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 by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clear.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you build a strong case tailored to the requirements of the SSA.