Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers can provide helpful context for your hearing. At the Orlando hearing office, the 17 judges on record since 2016 show a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 34% to 89%. Because your case is assigned through a random workload-balancing algorithm, your outcome depends on the evidence you present.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Calabro. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Calabro'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 record for Michael Calabro spans from 2016 to 2019, covering 1,164 lifetime decisions. His approval rate was 60% in 2016, 60% in 2017, 66% in 2018, and 100% in 2019. These figures provide a baseline for understanding how he has historically approached the evidence presented in SSDI cases.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Calabro'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 Orlando hearing office
The Orlando hearing office serves a significant population across central Florida. With 17 judges on record, the office manages a high volume of cases. You can see the Orlando Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, reflecting the diverse ways different judges weigh medical evidence and vocational testimony.
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
Michael Calabro has a lifetime approval rate of 62%, which sits within the broader range of 34% to 89% observed among the 17 judges at the Orlando office. Because every case involves unique medical evidence, an attorney can help you determine how to best present your specific claim to this judge.
The data for Michael Calabro shows an approval rate of 60% in 2016 and 2017, 66% in 2018, and 100% in 2019. While these trends provide historical context, they do not guarantee future outcomes. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards this judge may prioritize.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
A 62% lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully developed for the hearing.