Approval rates
The 62% approval rate for John H. Maclean covers all 886 decisions on record since 2016. You can compare this against the 36% to 81% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. This range shows how much individual judicial patterns can vary.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Maclean. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Maclean'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 John H. Maclean showed a steady trend across the 886 decisions on record between 2016 and 2018. You can see an approval rate of 60% in 2016, 65% in 2017, and 58% in 2018. These variations are common and often reflect shifts in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented in a given year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Maclean'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 Savannah hearing office
The Savannah hearing office is the most recent office on record for John H. Maclean as of September 2018. It is home to a bench of 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Savannah hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Savannah
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 36% to 81% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, understanding the range of outcomes at this office 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
John H. Maclean has a 62% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 36% to 81% range of approval rates for the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Savannah hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for John H. Maclean was 60% in 2016, 65% in 2017, and 58% in 2018. These fluctuations are based on 886 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these past patterns might relate to your upcoming hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A 62% approval rate on record since 2016 provides context on past decisions, but it is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational documentation you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.
