Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the 63% approval rate since 2016 provides a long-term view, the latest-period approval rate of 68% offers a more current snapshot. These figures are best understood against the broader bench at the Mobile hearing office, where since-2016 approval rates range from 28% to 81%.
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 McCaghren'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 Marni R. McCaghren has fluctuated across the 3,297 decisions on record since 2016. After reaching a low of 58% in 2020, the rate has seen varying activity, with the latest period showing a 68% approval rate. This recent performance sits above the 63% average observed over the entire data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McCaghren'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 Mobile hearing office
Marni R. McCaghren's most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 75%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Mobile hearing office, there are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 81% since 2016.
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
Marni R. McCaghren's 63% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 28% to 81% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a case that meets the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 58% in 2020 to 68% in the most recent reporting period. These variations are common and often depend on the specific mix of cases assigned. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with current trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. 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 for any outcome by ensuring your medical record is complete.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. The judge's goal is to determine if your condition meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to present the strongest case possible.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Marni R. McCaghren has a 63% approval rate since 2016, your individual result depends on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and weaknesses.
