Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Glendening is based on 988 lifetime decisions rendered during his tenure. When compared to the Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office latest approval rate of 64%, his individual rate shows a variance of -29 percentage points. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of his history on the bench, though they do not predict 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 Glendening Jr.'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 his 1 year on the bench, Judge Glendening has maintained a consistent pattern in his decision-making. With 988 lifetime decisions recorded, the data reflects a stable approach to the evidence presented in your disability claim. While his approval rate remains distinct from the broader office averages, the trend has held steady throughout his time in the Atlanta Downtown office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Glendening Jr.'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 Glendening Jr.? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Atlanta Downtown hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office serves a large population across Georgia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 64%. You can expect a formal environment where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary driver of success. You can see the Atlanta Downtown 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. Across the Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 23% to 69%. This variance highlights why understanding the local bench is important for your hearing. You can find more information on the office's overall performance on the Atlanta Downtown 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.