Approval rates
Understanding how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. The 66% approval rate for Gregory A. Maddox is based on 3,461 decisions since 2016. This rate sits within the range of 19% to 66% observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tupelo hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Maddox. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Maddox'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 Gregory A. Maddox has shifted over time. Starting at 54% in 2016, the annual approval rate reached 73% by 2023 and was 72% through the 2025 period. This pattern reflects the outcomes across the 3,461 decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Maddox'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 Tupelo hearing office
The Tupelo hearing office serves claimants in the region. As of the most recent record in September 2025, this office maintains a bench of 7 judges who handle disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tupelo
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tupelo hearing office, and their approval rates vary from 19% to 66%.
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
Gregory A. Maddox has an approval rate of 66% since 2016, which is at the higher end of the range for the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tupelo hearing office. Other judges at this office have rates ranging down to 19%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Gregory A. Maddox has trended over time, moving from 54% in 2016 to 72% in 2025. This reflects the pattern across the 3,461 decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and often a vocational or medical expert appear before an ALJ. The judge will ask questions about your work history, medical conditions, and daily limitations to determine if you meet the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of how Gregory A. Maddox will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your inability to perform substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
