Approval rates
Judge Maddox maintains a lifetime approval rate of 64%. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 72%, performing 6 points higher than the national average and 9 points higher than the state average. With 21,746 lifetime decisions on the record, this data offers a stable view of his judicial history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 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
Over his 10 years on the bench, Judge Maddox has shown an upward trajectory in his approval patterns. Starting at 51% in 2016, his annual approval rates have climbed, reaching 73% in 2023 and 73% in 2025. This trend suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence and medical documentation. The recent period reflects a continuation of this pattern, indicating that his current decision-making is well-aligned with his long-term judicial 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.
Hearing with Judge Maddox? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tupelo hearing office
The Tupelo Hearing Office serves a broad population across Mississippi, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 67%, reflecting the regional complexity of cases handled in this area. You can expect a professional environment focused on the rigorous evaluation of medical and vocational evidence. Please see the Tupelo Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Tupelo Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary widely, ranging from 19% to 64%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific requirements of your hearing is vital. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.