Approval rates
The approval rates for Jeffery D. Morgan reflect a career-long record of 38% across 3,415 decisions. When evaluating these figures, compare the lifetime performance against the broader office-wide lifetime range of 38% to 85%. In the most recent reporting period, the 46% approval rate can be measured against the New Orleans office average of 49%. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting your specific outcome.
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 Morgan'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, Jeffery D. Morgan has maintained a consistent docket with 3,415 total decisions on record. The yearly trend shows a variation in approval rates, moving from 28% in 2016 to 46% in the most recent reporting period. These trends provide insight into how claims have been historically processed, though your case remains unique.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Morgan'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 New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans hearing office serves you throughout Louisiana and the surrounding region. This office features a bench of 17 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 49%. You can expect a formal process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. See the New Orleans Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at the New Orleans office since 2016, 6 of whom reported data in the latest period. Approval rates among these peers vary significantly, ranging from 38% to 85% over their respective lifetimes.
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
Jeffery D. Morgan has a lifetime approval rate of 38%, which sits at the lower end of the 38% to 85% range observed among the 17 judges on record at the New Orleans office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After starting with a 28% approval rate in 2016, the rate has trended upward, reaching 46% in the most recent reporting period. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, a qualified attorney can provide a free case review.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because 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 an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. Having an attorney by your side can help you navigate this process and ensure your testimony is clear.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While the lifetime rate is 38%, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how it aligns with SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your evidence before your hearing.