Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2016 is 29%, latest-period data shows a 36% approval rate, which is 19 points below the Franklin TN office average of 55%. These figures are derived from 2,983 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 Suttles'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 rate for Gary J. Suttles has shifted over the 2,983 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of lower approval rates between 2017 and 2018, the trend has moved upward, reaching 36% in the most recent reporting period. This latest-period figure represents a divergence from the long-term average, reflecting a recent shift in case outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Suttles'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 Franklin TN hearing office
The Franklin TN hearing office serves claimants throughout the region and maintains a bench of 14 judges. As of the most recent data, the office-wide approval rate for the latest period stands at 55%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Franklin TN
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 10 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 29% to 76% on their since-2016 records.
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
Gary J. Suttles has a 29% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the lower end of the 29% to 76% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Franklin TN hearing office. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Gary J. Suttles has trended upward in recent years. While the rate was 23% in 2018, it reached 36% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to the evidence in your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your judge, an attorney can help you build a strong case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you or vocational experts. Having an attorney can help you navigate the hearing process and ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your ability to meet SSA's disability criteria are the primary factors in any decision. An attorney can help you assess your case's strengths.
