Approval rates
This table compares the approval performance of Larry E. Johnson against the broader bench at the Tucson hearing office. We evaluate the 76% approval rate on record since 2016 against the 50% to 79% range observed among peers at this office. Latest-period data shows the judge at 84%, compared to the office average of 77%, the state average of 65%, and the national average of 58%. These figures reflect past performance rather than a guarantee of your outcome.
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
Since 2016, Larry E. Johnson has issued 3,746 decisions. The approval trend shows a gradual rise over the last decade, moving from 71% in 2016 to 84% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. While there were minor fluctuations in the middle years, the recent data reflects a consistent upward trajectory in approval rates. This latest period indicates a performance level that exceeds the long-term average.
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 Tucson hearing office
The Tucson hearing office serves you and other claimants across Arizona and the surrounding region. As of July 2026, this office remains the most recent office on record for Larry E. Johnson and 4 other published judges. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 77%, which provides a benchmark for the local bench. You can find more information on the local judiciary by visiting the Tucson hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tucson
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tucson hearing office, with 3 of them having decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 50% to 79% on their records since 2016. You should prepare for your hearing based on the merits of your claim regardless of your assigned judge.
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
Larry E. Johnson holds a 76% approval rate on his record since 2016, which is at the higher end of the 50% to 79% range observed among the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is Tucson. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Larry E. Johnson has shown a steady upward trend, starting at 71% in 2016 and reaching 84% in the most recent 2026 fiscal year-to-date period. Understanding these patterns is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you navigate the hearing process regardless of your assignment.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to address the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Because every case involves unique medical evidence, an attorney can help you identify the strengths of your claim and address potential weaknesses before you appear before Larry E. Johnson.
