Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with allowance rates for judges ranging from 33% to 78%. This wide spread means that which judge you draw matters. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, but you can prepare your evidence to be robust enough to meet the standards of any ALJ on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Dispositions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John M. Meisburg Jr. | 78% | 2,445 | |
| 2 | Yelanda Collins | 70% | 4,464 | |
| 3 | K. Barlow | 58% | 3,373 | |
| 4 | Bruce Landrum | 57% | 4,247 | |
| 5 | Guy Koster | 52% | 3,206 | |
| 6 | Stephen C. Calvarese | 52% | 3,190 | |
| 7 | William H. Greer | 48% | 4,678 | |
| 8 | Scott T. Morris | 48% | 3,453 | |
| 9 | Teresa J. McGarry | 47% | 816 | |
| 10 | Kelley Fitzgerald | 46% | 4,190 | |
| 11 | M. Hart | 46% | 2,519 | |
| 12 | Ken B. Terry | 45% | 3,666 | |
| 13 | Bernard Porter | 44% | 4,569 | |
| 14 | Robert Droker | 43% | 4,117 | |
| 15 | Gregory J. Froehlich | 38% | 4,453 | |
| 16 | John D. Thompson Jr. | 35% | 1,571 | |
| 17 | Richard Furcolo | 33% | 4,060 |
How 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.
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 8-month wait is a critical window to organize the medical records that will define your hearing. While you wait, ensure your file includes updated treatment notes, a detailed list of medication side effects, and daily-activity logs that illustrate your functional limitations. Hearings typically last 45 to 60 minutes, where an ALJ will lead the questioning and a vocational expert will testify about your ability to perform specific jobs. Because evidence submission deadlines are strict, you must finalize your documentation well before the hearing date. The ALJ will weigh this evidence against the vocational expert's testimony to reach a decision, which you will receive by mail several weeks later.
When a panel's allowance rates span 45 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to weak documentation. Many claimants assume the hearing is a simple conversation, but it is a formal legal proceeding where the vocational expert's testimony can be the deciding factor. Preparing for the specific questions you will face is a standard part of the process.
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.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at this office is currently 8 months. This is slightly faster than the national average of 8.2 months.
Cases are assigned randomly to one of the 17 Administrative Law Judges at this office. Because each judge weighs evidence differently, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of the panel.
You generally cannot choose your judge, as assignments are made by the Social Security Administration to ensure impartiality. If you have concerns about your assigned judge, an attorney can help you understand your options.
While not required, represented claimants are often more successful than those who proceed alone. An attorney can help you navigate the 51% allowance rate by ensuring your medical evidence is properly presented.