Approval rates
The 63% approval rate for Paul W. Johnson reflects his total record since 2016, which can be measured against the 21% to 92% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how past cases have been decided. 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 rate for Paul W. Johnson has shown variation across the 2,334 decisions on record since 2016. After a 70% approval rate in 2016, the annual figures fluctuated, reaching 66% in 2020 before shifting to 48% in 2022. This trend highlights how yearly case outcomes can change over time.
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 Montgomery hearing office
The Montgomery hearing office is the most recent office on record for Paul W. Johnson, with his last recorded decision there in September 2022. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges with diverse approval patterns. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 92% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the broader office bench is helpful.
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
Paul W. Johnson has a 63% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 21% to 92% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Montgomery hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your evidence for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Paul W. Johnson has fluctuated over the years. While he reached a 66% approval rate in 2020, the data shows a decline in the most recent period on record. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Montgomery hearing office, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 63% approval rate for Paul W. Johnson is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends heavily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
