Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 64% approval rate for Mary E. Johnson reflects her performance across 1,472 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the broader bench range of 21% to 76% for judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Johnson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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 approval trend for Mary E. Johnson has remained relatively steady, with 66% in 2016, 64% in 2017, 62% in 2018, and 63% in 2019. With 1,472 total decisions on record since 2016, the data provides a consistent view of how this judge has historically handled claims. While the volume of decisions varied annually, the overall pattern suggests a stable approach to case evaluation.
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 Dallas Downtown hearing office
Mary E. Johnson's most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with decisions there through September 2022. This office serves the Texas region and hosts a bench of 18 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 76%. Because each judge brings a different perspective to the hearing room, understanding the office-wide bench is helpful for your preparation.
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
Mary E. Johnson has an approval rate of 64% on record since 2016. This falls within the 21% to 76% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The approval rate for Mary E. Johnson has remained steady, moving from 66% in 2016 to 62% in 2018. With 1,472 decisions on record, this pattern reflects a consistent approach to case adjudication. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly communicated.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Mary E. Johnson has a 64% approval rate on record since 2016, the strength of your medical documentation is the most important factor. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
