Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While Judge Weaver has a 24% approval rate on record since 2016, her latest-period performance shows a 42% approval rate, which sits 2 points below the 44% office average for the same period. These figures are derived from a significant volume of 2,459 decisions, providing a stable baseline for analysis.
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 Weaver'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 2,459 decisions on record since 2016 reveal a fluctuating approval pattern for Judge Weaver. After a period of lower approval rates between 2020 and 2022, the data shows a recent shift, with the latest period reaching 42%. This recent activity stands in contrast to the long-term average, suggesting that the approach to evidence or case mix may have evolved.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Weaver'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 Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North hearing office, where Judge Weaver's most recent decisions were recorded as of July 2026, serves claimants across the region. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 44%. You can see the Atlanta North hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 24% to 94% since 2016.
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
Judge Weaver's 24% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the 24% to 94% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Atlanta North. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation. While the rate on record since 2016 is 24%, the latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 42%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the current evidence requirements for your claim.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, and you cannot choose your judge. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have a strong, well-documented case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the specific questions Judge Weaver may ask.
