Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office vary, as the approval rates for the panel span from 32% to 76%. This spread means that the judge assigned to your case can have a meaningful impact on your outcome. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. Your file must be strong enough to stand on its own regardless of who presides.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas A. Wright | 76% | 2,372 | |
| 2 | Stacy Gray | 74% | 611 | |
| 3 | Gloria W. Green | 73% | 3,521 | |
| 4 | Jason A. Lewis | 61% | 2,825 | |
| 5 | Lori J. Williams | 52% | 3,453 | |
| 6 | James K. Grimes | 47% | 3,249 | |
| 7 | Randall C. Stout | 46% | 441 | |
| 8 | Mallette Richey | 45% | 3,563 | |
| 9 | Patrick R. Digby | 32% | 3,312 |
How long you'll wait
At Florence, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 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
Your hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your claim. Because the wait time in Florence is a steady 7 months, you have a clear window to ensure your medical records are complete. You must submit any new evidence well before the hearing, as last-minute additions are restricted. During the session, a Vocational Expert often testifies about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations. You and your attorney can question this expert to clarify how your impairments prevent you from working. After the hearing, the judge mails a decision to your home.
With a panel where approval rates vary significantly, your file must be prepared to succeed regardless of which judge is assigned. An attorney who understands the Florence panel can identify the specific weaknesses in your medical record that an ALJ might focus on. They can also prepare you for the vocational expert's testimony, which is often the deciding factor in a reversal of a prior denial. This preparation ensures your testimony aligns with the medical evidence in your file.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Florence, 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 7 months, which is faster than the national average of 8.2 months. An attorney can help you track your case status as your hearing date approaches.
Hearings are assigned randomly to the judges whose most recent office on record is Florence. Because outcomes vary across the panel, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you understand the panel's tendencies.
Generally, you cannot request a different judge. However, an attorney can help you understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your case so you can better tailor your testimony.
While not required, represented claimants are often more successful. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare for the vocational expert's testimony.
