Approval rates
The 79% approval rate for Claire R. Strong reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This is compared against the 21% to 92% range of the 17 other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery. This sample size of 3,544 decisions provides a view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Strong. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Strong'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 trend for Claire R. Strong has shifted since 2016. Starting at 69% in 2016, the rate reached 90% by 2025 across 315 decisions that year. This pattern reflects the outcomes over the 3,544 total decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Strong'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 Montgomery hearing office
Claire R. Strong's most recent SSA record (September 2025) is at the Montgomery hearing office. This office's bench includes 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Montgomery Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 92% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains 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
Claire R. Strong has an approval rate of 79% since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 21% to 92% for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Montgomery. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
Yes, the approval rate has trended upward over the years. It moved from 69% in 2016 to 90% in 2025. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards typically required for a favorable decision.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on a strong, well-documented case is the best way to prepare.
The 79% approval rate on record since 2016 describes past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
