Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their peers. The 59% approval rate for Troy M. Patterson sits within a range of 29% to 76% for the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office. This comparison is based on records since 2016, providing a baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Patterson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The approval rate for Troy M. Patterson has fluctuated across the 2,036 decisions on record since 2016. After an initial approval rate of 61% in 2016, the annual figures saw a peak of 66% in 2017 before declining to 53% in 2018. The rate then showed a recovery, reaching 57% in 2019 and 64% by 2020. This trend suggests that your judge's decision-making has varied over time, which may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented.
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 Franklin TN hearing office
The Franklin TN hearing office has been the site of 2,036 decisions by Troy M. Patterson on record since 2016. This office is part of a larger network of SSA hearing locations, and it is staffed by 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Franklin TN Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 29% to 76% on their since-2016 records. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the range of outcomes at this office provides helpful context for your hearing.
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
Troy M. Patterson has a 59% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 29% to 76% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over the years. It moved from 61% in 2016 to a high of 66% in 2017, followed by a low of 53% in 2018, before rising again to 64% in 2020. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding held before an ALJ. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will discuss your medical history and ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and your ability to meet SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and strengthen your case before your hearing.
