Approval rates
Judge Meachum maintains an approval rate that outperforms both the Madison Hearing Office average of 69% and the national baseline of 58%. With 15,162 lifetime decisions on the bench, her record offers a significant sample size for understanding her judicial history. These comparisons highlight how her courtroom outcomes diverge from broader state and federal trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Meachum'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 her 7 years on the bench, Judge Meachum has demonstrated a high approval trend, peaking at 82% in 2019. While the rate remained steady through 2021, the most recent data from 2022 shows a shift to 57%. This recent change may reflect variations in case complexity or shifts in the evidence presented during those specific hearings. Her long-term record suggests a judge who has historically been receptive to well-documented disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Meachum'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 Meachum? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Madison hearing office
The Madison Hearing Office serves a broad population across Wisconsin, managing a high volume of SSDI cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office maintains an average approval rate of 69%, reflecting the regional standards for disability adjudication. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and work history. You can visit the Madison Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Madison Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 49% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare. The guidance for your hearing remains consistent 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.