Approval rates
The following table displays approval rates for Robert T. Jackson Jr. based on his record since 2016. This data reflects 1,047 total decisions, providing a statistical overview of his historical activity.
Judge Jackson Jr. 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 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Jackson Jr. 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 Jackson 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
Robert T. Jackson Jr. decided 1,047 cases between 2016 and 2018. His approval rate showed an upward trend during this period, beginning at 75% in 2016 and reaching 83% by 2018.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Jackson 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.
About the Atlanta Downtown hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for Robert T. Jackson Jr. as of September 2018. The office manages cases for individuals in the surrounding region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Among the 9 judges who decided cases at the Atlanta Downtown Hearing Office in the latest SSA file, approval rates range from 47% to 70% on their records since 2016.
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
Robert T. Jackson Jr. holds an 80% approval rate on his record since 2016. In comparison, the 9 judges at the Atlanta Downtown office who appear in the latest SSA file range from 47% to 70% on their records since 2016. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, Robert T. Jackson Jr.'s approval rate increased during his time on record, rising from 75% in 2016 to 83% by 2018. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends on the medical and vocational evidence you provide. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
