Approval rates
The approval rate for Marshall D. Riley is based on 3,457 decisions made between 2016 and 2023. This record is compared against the 8 judges who decided cases at the Kingsport Hearing Office in the most recent SSA file, who range from 42% to 73% on their own records since 2016. These figures provide a statistical overview of past performance.
Judge Riley 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 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Riley 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 Riley'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
Marshall D. Riley decided 3,457 cases between 2016 and 2023. The approval rate remained relatively high through 2021 before shifting in 2022 and 2023. The yearly data shows a peak of 88% in 2021, followed by a change in the final two years of the record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Riley'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 serves you in Tennessee and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the evidence provided in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 42% to 73% on their since-2016 records. There are 15 judges 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
Marshall D. Riley has a 78% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits above the 42% to 73% range observed among the 8 judges who decided cases at this office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
The approval rate for Marshall D. Riley was 75% in 2016 and reached a high of 88% in 2021. The rate subsequently moved to 60% in 2022 and 70% in 2023. An attorney can help you evaluate how to present your evidence regardless of these historical trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, but a qualified attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your limitations and how they prevent you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case will be decided based on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your specific circumstances.
