Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Atchison maintains a lifetime approval rate of 37%, which differs from the current Phoenix Hearing Office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 531 lifetime decisions, providing a stable look at past judicial activity. 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 Atchison'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 her tenure, Judge Atchison has maintained a consistent approach to case evaluation. With 531 lifetime decisions, the data reflects a steady pattern of adjudication that has remained stable throughout her time on the bench. While recent reporting periods show a variance from the office-wide average, this is common in the Social Security Administration hearing process. This pattern suggests that the judge prioritizes specific evidentiary requirements when reviewing your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Atchison'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 Atchison? 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 cases to ensure timely reviews. The office maintains an average approval rate of 56%, reflecting the diverse nature of the claims processed in this region. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit 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. Within the Phoenix Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 36% to 78%. Because of this variance, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical record and testimony. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.