Approval rates
Judge Johnson maintains a lifetime approval rate of 49% based on 20,032 decisions rendered over his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 54%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the Richmond office average of 47% but remains below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for his decision-making history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Johnson 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 the past decade, your judge's approval rate has experienced notable shifts. After a period of decline between 2020 and 2022, where rates dipped to a low of 37%, the data shows a clear upward trend starting in 2023. The most recent reporting period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern of higher approvals compared to his mid-tenure performance. This recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in his courtroom.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson 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 Johnson Jr.? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Richmond hearing office
The Richmond Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Virginia and operates as a critical hub for the region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of disability claims, maintaining an office-wide latest approval rate of 47%. When you appear here, be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical documentation and vocational evidence. You can view the full ALJ roster on the Richmond Hearing Office page.
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. Within the Richmond office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 57%. This variance highlights why preparation is essential regardless of which judge is assigned to your case. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent regardless of the specific judge presiding.
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.