Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Ollie Garmon based on the 866 decisions recorded between 2017 and 2021. This record is compared against the range of other judges who have decided cases at the Atlanta North Hearing Office, specifically those active in the most recent SSA file. These statistics provide a broad view of historical outcomes rather than a guarantee of future results. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Garmon is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 24, 2021. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Garmon isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Garmon'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
Ollie Garmon's approval rate is based on 866 decisions issued between 2017 and 2021. The annual data shows a high volume of approvals, with the rate reaching 96% in 2019 before shifting to 89% by the end of the recorded period in 2021. This pattern reflects the total decisions made during those years of the record. The data indicates a high level of consistency throughout the period, with the final year of the record sitting slightly below the peak observed in 2019.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Garmon'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 the region. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with the office's last recorded activity for Ollie Garmon dating to September 2021. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where evidence is reviewed against federal disability criteria. You can see the Atlanta North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, and the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 24% to 61% on their since-2016 records. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 6 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Ollie Garmon's 94% approval rate on record through 2021 is higher than the range of 24% to 61% seen among the 6 judges who decided cases at the Atlanta North Hearing Office in SSA's latest file. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific bench you are assigned.
Ollie Garmon's approval rate was 92% in 2018, peaked at 96% in 2019, and was 89% in 2021. These figures represent the historical decision pattern on record. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with the requirements of your hearing.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, and you cannot choose your judge. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide to support your claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present a strong case.
