Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While you see a 51% approval rate across the entire record since 2016, recent data shows a 54% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This latest figure sits 1 percentage point below the Memphis hearing office's latest-period rate of 55%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the docket, though 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 Lang'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 January 2016, Jerry M. Lang has issued 3,779 decisions. The yearly approval trend has remained relatively steady, showing minor fluctuations. While the approval rate dipped to 48% in 2023, it reached 54% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. This recent performance reflects a consistent approach to evaluating evidence in your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lang'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 Memphis hearing office
Jerry M. Lang's most recent office on record is the Memphis hearing office, which serves you and other claimants across Tennessee and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Memphis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Memphis hearing office, there are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among these peers range from 44% to 80% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains the same 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
Jerry M. Lang's 51% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 44% to 80% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Memphis hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case specifically for the evidentiary standards common in this office.
Jerry M. Lang's approval rate has remained relatively steady since 2016, with a 51% average over 3,779 decisions. While there are yearly fluctuations, such as the 54% rate seen in the latest period, the overall pattern has not shown a dramatic shift. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case that addresses the specific requirements of the hearing process.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's definition of disability. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence and strengthen your claim before your hearing date.
