Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 8 judges in Knoxville shows a wide spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 14% to 76%. Because this variation is significant, your case must be prepared to meet a high standard of evidence. Judges are assigned randomly, and each weighs medical testimony differently, so a strong, well-documented file is your best tool for success.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John R. Barker | 78% | 948 | |
| 2 | J. Elaine Burke | 69% | 17,720 | |
| 3 | Stephanie M. Jones | 68% | 15,858 | |
| 4 | K. Dickson Grissom | 66% | 23,105 | |
| 5 | Donna Lefebvre | 63% | 29,933 | |
| 6 | Juliana P. Heaton | 57% | 18,087 | |
| 7 | Mark Dowd | 55% | 4,609 | |
| 8 | Jim Beeby | 55% | 30,195 | |
| 9 | James Dixon | 53% | 26,590 | |
| 10 | Edward Bowling | 50% | 14,131 | |
| 11 | Todd Spangler | 49% | 20,937 | |
| 12 | Andrea L. Wirth | 42% | 8,279 | |
| 13 | Joyce Francis | 13% | 18,744 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Knoxville, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically 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
Hearings in Knoxville move faster than the national average, so prioritize gathering your updated medical records and a detailed log of your daily activities immediately. You will appear before an ALJ, where a vocational expert will likely testify about jobs that fit your physical or mental limits. Because the panel here shows a wide spread in allowance rates, your file must be robust enough to withstand scrutiny regardless of which judge is assigned. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. Your final decision will arrive by mail in the weeks following your appearance.
When a panel's allowance rates span 62 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants spend their 7-month wait time simply waiting for a date, while represented claimants use that period to bridge gaps in their medical history. An attorney who understands the Knoxville panel can help you anticipate the vocational expert's questions and build a record that speaks for itself.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Knoxville, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. 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.