Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for John Murdock based on his decisions since 2016. The 14 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 33% to 85% on their records since 2016. These figures provide context regarding the bench's historical activity.
Judge Murdock is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Murdock isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Murdock'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
John Murdock decided 833 cases between 2016 and 2020. His approval rate was 80% in 2016, 84% in 2017, 79% in 2018, 80% in 2019, and 73% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Murdock'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 NHC Falls Church hearing office
The NHC Falls Church is the most recent office on record for John Murdock as of September 2020. This office maintains a bench of 33 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Falls Church
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Within the NHC Falls Church, the 14 judges who decided cases in SSA's latest file range from 33% to 85% on their since-2016 records. There are 33 judges total whose most recent office on record is this one.
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
John Murdock's 80% approval rate on record through 2020 sits within the 33% to 85% range established by the 14 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
John Murdock's approval rate was 80% in 2016 and 73% in 2020, with fluctuations in between. These figures represent past decisions rather than a trend for any specific future case. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and testimony remains the most critical factor in your claim. An attorney can help you build a strong case for your hearing.
