Approval rates
Joseph T. Scruton has an approval rate of 66% across 4,227 decisions on record since 2016. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 70%, compared to the 54% approval rate for the Roanoke hearing office as a whole. These figures reflect past performance and do not indicate how your specific case will be decided.
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 Scruton'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated between a low of 58% in 2016 and a high of 73% in 2024. In the most recent partial fiscal year, the approval rate was 70%. These year-to-year variations are common and reflect the specific mix of cases heard during those periods.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Scruton'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 Roanoke hearing office
Joseph T. Scruton's most recent office on record is the Roanoke hearing office, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office serves as the primary location for your hearing, and the bench consists of 5 judges who handle cases for the surrounding region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Roanoke
There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the Roanoke hearing office. Among this group, approval rates for cases decided since 2016 range from 41% to 66%. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment process to distribute cases among the available judges.
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
Joseph T. Scruton's 66% approval rate is at the top of the 41% to 66% range for the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is Roanoke. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
Yes, the approval rate has varied annually, starting at 58% in 2016 and reaching 70% in the most recent partial fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly to balance the workload. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where you provide testimony and present medical evidence. Having an attorney can help you organize your records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a prediction for your hearing. Your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.
