Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office cluster around a median approval rate of 51%, though the panel shows a moderate spread with rates ranging from 44% to 80%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each ALJ weighs evidence according to their own interpretation of the law. This variation means your case must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of who is presiding.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larry B. Creson | 80% | 312 | |
| 2 | George W. Jenkins III | 78% | 2,581 | |
| 3 | Jennifer Mills | 73% | 3,330 | |
| 4 | Paul M. Stimson | 64% | 2,979 | |
| 5 | Robert Hodum | 55% | 4,038 | |
| 6 | Lyle A. Jones | 52% | 2,221 | |
| 7 | Jerry M. Lang | 51% | 3,779 | |
| 8 | John A. Peebles | 50% | 3,780 | |
| 9 | Camille Monahan | 50% | 738 | |
| 10 | David Willis | 50% | 3,154 | |
| 11 | William R. Ingram | 47% | 376 | |
| 12 | Carmen Graves | 47% | 680 | |
| 13 | Rosalind Eddins-Hill | 45% | 3,180 | |
| 14 | Leetra J. Harris | 44% | 1,061 |
How long you'll wait
At Memphis, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 months— versus a national average of 8.2 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
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.
Going to your hearing
The 9-month wait at the Memphis office is your runway to strengthen your file before you appear before an ALJ. You must submit all updated medical records, including recent test results and notes from your treating physicians, well before the hearing date. Prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and how your symptoms limit your ability to work. During the hearing, you will likely face questions from the judge and a vocational expert regarding your work history and functional limitations. Because the panel shows moderate variation in how they weigh evidence, your documentation must be clear and comprehensive. A well-prepared file is your best defense against the uncertainty of the hearing process.
With a 9-month wait between filing and your hearing, you have a significant window to ensure your evidence is airtight. Cases that fail at this stage often do so because the medical record does not directly address the vocational expert's testimony about available work. Focusing on your functional limitations and medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare for your appearance.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Memphis, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. SSA's published service areas route these offices' appeals here. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at this office is 9 months. This is slightly higher than the national average of 8.2 months.
ALJ assignments are made randomly, and you will not know which judge is presiding until your hearing notice arrives. Because there is a moderate spread in approval rates across the panel, it is essential to have a well-documented case regardless of the judge assigned.
Generally, you cannot request a different judge. If you have concerns about a potential conflict of interest, you should discuss them with an attorney immediately to determine the appropriate legal steps.
While not required, having an attorney can help you navigate the process. An attorney can help you ensure your file is prepared for the vocational expert's testimony.
