Approval rates
Suhirjahaan Morehead's 42% approval rate since 2016 sits within the 42% to 82% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 54% approval rate compares to a 68% rate for the office, a 57% rate for Tennessee, and a 58% national average.
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 Morehead'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
Since 2016, Suhirjahaan Morehead has issued 3,233 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates dipping to 33% in 2019 before rising to 54% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This latest-period performance indicates a shift from the historical average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Morehead'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 Chattanooga hearing office
Suhirjahaan Morehead's most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 16 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 68%. You can see the Chattanooga hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Chattanooga
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 42% to 82% 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
Suhirjahaan Morehead has a 42% approval rate on record since 2016, which falls at the lower end of the 42% to 82% range seen among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Suhirjahaan Morehead has fluctuated over time. While the rate on record since 2016 is 42%, the judge's latest-period approval rate is 54%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. The judge's goal is to determine if your condition meets the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to present the strongest possible case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA requirements. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
