Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate on record since 2018 is 55%, recent data shows a 62% approval rate during the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 6 percentage points above the Kingsport office average of 56%. These statistics are based on a volume of 3,132 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Pottinger'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 2018, the approval rate for John A. Pottinger has shown a varied trend. After an initial 61% approval rate in 2018, the rate fluctuated, reaching 44% in 2019 before trending upward. The latest reporting period shows a 62% approval rate, which is a continuation of the pattern observed in 2023 and 2024. This recent performance reflects the judge's activity in the most recent reporting window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pottinger'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 Kingsport hearing office
The Kingsport hearing office is the most recent office on record for John A. Pottinger as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges who manage disability claims. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. For more information, see the Kingsport hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Kingsport hearing office, there are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among these judges vary widely, ranging from 41% to 88% on their records. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Judge Pottinger's 55% approval rate on record since 2018 falls within the 41% to 88% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. After starting at 61% in 2018, it reached 44% in 2019 before rising to 62% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Judge Pottinger has a 55% approval rate on record since 2018, your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
