Approval rates
Comparing judicial performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Patterson holds an 80% approval rate since 2023, the broader bench at the South Jersey office shows a range of 50% to 93% on their records. In the most recent reporting period, Patterson's 80% approval rate sits 11 points above the office average of 69%, 17 points above the state average of 63%, and 22 points above the national average of 58%.
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 Patterson'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
Patterson's approval rate has remained steady across the 1,094 decisions on record since November 2023. Yearly data shows an 82% approval rate in 2024, 78% in 2025, and 80% in 2026 through the partial fiscal year. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Patterson'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 South Jersey hearing office
The South Jersey hearing office serves you throughout the region. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a diverse bench with varying approval patterns. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 69%, providing a baseline for the region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is South Jersey
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office, 8 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 50% to 93% on their records.
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
Patterson's 80% approval rate on record since 2023 is positioned within the 50% to 93% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the South Jersey office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate has remained steady, moving from 82% in 2024 to 80% in the 2026 partial fiscal year. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot select your judge, it is vital to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any judge assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how your specific hearing will conclude. While Patterson's 80% rate is a data point, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you build a case that addresses the specific requirements of the SSA.
