Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers can provide helpful context for your hearing. The 53% approval rate for Mark Siegel is based on 1,289 decisions on record since 2016, which compares to the 13% to 77% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. This data provides a statistical baseline for the office's bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Siegel. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Siegel'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
Over the period from January 2016 to September 2019, Mark Siegel maintained a steady volume of cases. The approval rate was 56% in 2016, 59% in 2017, 52% in 2018, and 42% in 2019. These 1,289 decisions on record show a shift in outcomes over the final years of the data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Siegel'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 Knoxville hearing office
Mark Siegel's most recent office on record is the Knoxville hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves claimants across Tennessee and is staffed by 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Knoxville hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville, with approval rates ranging from 13% to 77% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare.
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
Mark Siegel's 53% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 13% to 77% range of the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Knoxville. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in outcomes over the 1,289 decisions on record. The rate moved from 56% in 2016 to 42% by 2019. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your case strategy.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You do not have the option to select your judge, which is why working with an attorney to prepare for any outcome is recommended.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. Having an attorney present can help ensure your evidence is presented clearly to the judge.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim, and an attorney can help you organize that evidence effectively.
