Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, James Cole Cartledge's 97% approval rate is higher than the 64% office average, 59% state average, and 58% national average. His record since 2016 shows a 66% approval rate across 3,578 decisions. These figures provide a view of past activity rather than a prediction for your hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cartledge'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
James Cole Cartledge has issued 3,578 decisions on record since 2016. His approval rate has shifted over this period, moving from 85% in 2016 to a low of 45% in 2019 before trending upward to 97% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. This pattern reflects the total decisions recorded in the SSA data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cartledge'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 Miami OHO hearing office
The Miami OHO is the most recent office on record for James Cole Cartledge, with activity documented through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, the office recorded an approval rate of 64%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical evidence you provide.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Miami OHO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Among the 8 judges who decided cases at the Miami OHO in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 48% to 97% over the 12-month window. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Cartledge's 97%. No other judge in Florida is within 5 points, so these come from SSA's Atlanta region and other regions.
- 93% Approval rate, last 12 months D. Burgess Stalley
- 98% Approval rate, last 12 months Whitfield Haigler Jr.
- 94% Approval rate, last 12 months Jan Leventer
- 93% Approval rate, last 12 months Margaret M. Sullivan
- 92% Approval rate, last 12 months Paul F. Kelly
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Cartledge and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, James Cole Cartledge's 97% approval rate is at the top of the range for the 8 judges who decided cases at the Miami OHO in SSA's latest file, who range from 48% to 97%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, his approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, reaching a low of 45% in 2019 before rising to 97% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with current hearing standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare regardless of your assigned judge.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony remain the most critical factors in your case. An attorney can help you build a strong case.
