Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. While Kevin Boucher has a 53% approval rate across his total record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 64%. This latest-period figure sits 11 percentage points below the Mobile office average of 75%, but 6 points above the national average of 58%. These figures rely on a large docket of 3,134 decisions on record since 2016. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Boucher's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Kevin Boucher has fluctuated over the years. After a period of decline reaching 42% in 2021, the trend has shown a recovery, with the latest period reaching 64%. This recent performance reflects a shift from your long-term average, suggesting that the latest period may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Boucher's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Mobile hearing office
Kevin Boucher's most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office, which serves claimants across Alabama. This office maintains a bench of 18 judges with varying approval rates. You can expect a standard hearing process where your evidence quality remains the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 10 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for these judges range from 28% to 81% on their records since 2016.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Kevin Boucher has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. Among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile office, approval rates range from 28% to 81%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Kevin Boucher has varied over time. It reached a low of 42% in 2021 and has since trended upward to 64% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will answer questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your case's success depends on your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your evidence.
