Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 21% approval rate for Walter V. Lassiter Jr. reflects all decisions on record since January 2016, which can be measured against the 21% to 92% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Lassiter Jr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lassiter 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
The approval rate for Walter V. Lassiter Jr. is based on 341 decisions on record since January 2016. The data shows an approval rate of 20% in 2016, followed by 38% in 2017. This trend indicates a shift in the approval pattern during the recorded window. Because the SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, this historical pattern serves as a reference point for the types of outcomes that have occurred in the past.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lassiter 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.
About the Montgomery hearing office
The Montgomery hearing office serves you in Alabama and the surrounding region. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your evidence quality and medical documentation remain the primary factors in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery
The SSA assigns cases to you using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the specific 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 history, the specific judge assigned to your case is an important variable.
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
Walter V. Lassiter Jr. has an approval rate of 21% based on 341 decisions on record since January 2016. This is at the lower end of the 21% to 92% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of your hearing.
The data on record shows an approval rate of 20% in 2016 and 38% in 2017. These figures represent the judge's historical pattern during the window of January 2016 through September 2017. If you are concerned about how these past trends might affect your hearing, an attorney can help you evaluate your evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments are random. Because you cannot control the assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Walter V. Lassiter Jr. has a 21% approval rate on record since 2016, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
