Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's recent decisions align with broader trends. Judge Huggins's 85% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits above the 71% office average, 65% state average, and 58% national average for the same period. These figures are derived from a docket of 411 decisions during this window, reflecting the judge's recent activity.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Huggins'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 2016, Judge Huggins has issued 3,936 decisions, maintaining an overall approval rate of 78%. The yearly data shows a trend of rising approval rates between 2022 and 2024, followed by a slight shift in the most recent partial year. While the 85% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, remains high, it sits slightly below the peak levels observed in 2024.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Huggins'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 Charlotte hearing office
The Charlotte hearing office serves you across North Carolina and the surrounding region. As of July 2026, this office has 18 judges on record. The office recorded a 71% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlotte
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Charlotte hearing office, the 9 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 37% to 89% over the 12-month window. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 9 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Huggins's 85%. Four of them last decided cases in North Carolina. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Atlanta region.
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months Maria L. Spitz
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months John A. Thawley
- 89% Approval rate, last 12 months Brent T. Asseff
- 81% Approval rate, last 12 months Mary Ryerse
- 85% Approval rate, last 12 months Vincent P. Intoccia
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Huggins and the three closest side by side →
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
Judge Huggins's 85% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is at the higher end of the range for the 9 judges who decided cases at the Charlotte hearing office in SSA's latest file. This range spans from 37% to 89% for that same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Judge Huggins has a 78% approval rate across 3,936 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate has fluctuated annually, the most recent 12-month approval rate of 85% remains consistent with the judge's long-term record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. You cannot choose your judge, but you can prepare your case thoroughly regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence to meet the standards of any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are complete.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your case depends on the medical evidence and documentation you provide, not just the judge's history. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
