Who decides cases at this office
The 11 judges at this office demonstrate a wide spread in their allowance rates, which vary from 32% to 74%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This variation means your file must be robust enough to meet the standards of the most stringent judge on the panel, rather than relying on an office-wide average.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John M. Meisburg Jr. | 78% | 15,888 | |
| 2 | Yelanda Collins | 70% | 26,886 | |
| 3 | K. Barlow | 58% | 21,485 | |
| 4 | Bruce Landrum | 57% | 23,136 | |
| 5 | Joan A. Lawrence | 54% | 5,749 | |
| 6 | Stephen C. Calvarese | 51% | 20,792 | |
| 7 | Guy Koster | 51% | 18,837 | |
| 8 | Scott T. Morris | 49% | 19,598 | |
| 9 | Kelley Fitzgerald | 48% | 24,052 | |
| 10 | Teresa J. McGarry | 47% | 5,313 | |
| 11 | M. Hart | 46% | 16,050 | |
| 12 | William H. Greer | 46% | 27,019 | |
| 13 | Ken B. Terry | 45% | 22,912 | |
| 14 | Bernard Porter | 44% | 25,694 | |
| 15 | Robert Droker | 42% | 24,307 | |
| 16 | Gregory J. Froehlich | 38% | 24,314 | |
| 17 | John D. Thompson Jr. | 35% | 10,079 | |
| 18 | Richard Furcolo | 32% | 23,120 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Jacksonville, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 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
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
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
With an 8-month wait time that has trended upward recently, you have a window to ensure your medical file is complete. You should submit all updated medical records, including recent treatment notes and diagnostic tests, well before the hearing date. Your hearing will typically involve an ALJ and a vocational expert who will testify regarding your ability to perform work. You should arrive prepared to discuss your daily activities and any specific side effects from your medications. Because the judge makes the final determination based on the evidence presented, your testimony must be consistent with the medical records already in your file. A final decision is usually mailed to you several weeks after the proceedings conclude.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 40 percentage points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney familiar with the Jacksonville panel can help you anticipate the specific vocational questions you will face and ensure your medical evidence is organized to address the requirements of your claim. A free case review can help you determine if your current evidence is sufficient for your upcoming hearing.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Jacksonville, 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.