Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. Anthony J. Johnson maintains a 59% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the top of the 18% to 59% range observed among all judges at the Richmond office. In the most recent reporting period, his 59% approval rate outperformed the local office average of 45% by 14 percentage points. These figures are based on a volume of 276 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Johnson'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
The record for Anthony J. Johnson, spanning from 2016 to the present, shows a 59% lifetime approval rate across 276 decisions. His decision pattern has remained steady, with the most recent data reflecting this consistent approach. Because the SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, the specific judge you draw is a matter of chance. Understanding this trend helps you see how your case fits into the broader context of the Richmond office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Richmond hearing office
The Richmond hearing office serves you throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges on record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 45%, which provides a baseline for the local disability hearing environment. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical evidence presented in your file. See the Richmond Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Richmond hearing office currently has 13 judges on record since 2016, 5 of whom reported in the latest SSA data period. Because cases are assigned randomly, you have no control over which judge hears your claim. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 59% on a lifetime basis. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent 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
Anthony J. Johnson has a 59% lifetime approval rate, which is at the high end of the 18% to 59% range for all judges at the Richmond office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best align with the standards of this specific bench.
The data shows that Anthony J. Johnson has maintained a 59% approval rate over his 276 lifetime decisions on record. His decision pattern has remained steady throughout the reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your 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 organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. While Anthony J. Johnson has a 59% lifetime approval rate, the outcome of your hearing depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.