Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's record requires looking at both their long-term history and recent performance. S. Charles Murray has maintained a 67% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the broader 23% to 86% range observed across the Atlanta Downtown bench. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 75% approval rate outperformed the office average of 66% and the national average of 58%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than guaranteed outcomes for your case.
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 Murray'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, S. Charles Murray has presided over 3,617 decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of relative stability followed by a notable upward shift in approval rates starting in 2024. While the lifetime average is 67%, the most recent data indicates a 75% approval rate. This shift reflects recent patterns in how evidence is evaluated within the judge's docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Murray'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Atlanta Downtown hearing office
The Atlanta Downtown hearing office serves you throughout Georgia and the surrounding region. With 22 judges on record, the office manages a significant volume of disability claims with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 66%. You can expect a structured environment where evidence presentation is critical to the outcome of your hearing. You can see the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/atlanta-downtown-GA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 22 judges on record at this office since 2016, 9 of whom reported data in the latest period. With lifetime approval rates across the bench varying from 23% to 86%, the judge you draw can influence your hearing experience. The office's judges demonstrate a wide variety of approaches to case adjudication.
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
S. Charles Murray's 67% lifetime approval rate is within the 23% to 86% range seen among the 22 judges on record at the Atlanta Downtown office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards required in this office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After hovering between 59% and 68% for several years, the approval rate rose to 76% in 2024 and 81% in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these recent patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your symptoms prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence for the hearing.