Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same time period. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Robert W. Flynn's 82% approval rate sits above the 65% office and state averages and the 58% national average. His record since 2016 shows a 76% approval rate across 3,299 decisions.
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 Flynn'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
Since 2016, Robert W. Flynn has issued 3,299 decisions. His annual approval rates have fluctuated, with a low of 59% in 2019 and a high of 88% in 2024. The most recent 12 months, with an 82% approval rate, sit above his overall record since 2016 of 76%.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Flynn'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 Portland ME hearing office
The Portland ME hearing office serves you in Maine and the surrounding region. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, with 4 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file as of July 2026. The office maintained a 65% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Portland ME
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Portland ME, 4 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 4 judges range from 47% to 82% in their approval rates over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
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 Flynn's 82%. No other judge in Maine is within 5 points, so these come from SSA's Boston region and other regions.
- 78% Approval rate, last 12 months Brian W. Lemoine
- 82% Approval rate, last 12 months Yeline Quinones-Regalado
- 82% Approval rate, last 12 months Douglas S. Stults
- 82% Approval rate, last 12 months Mary Forrest-Doyle
- 82% Approval rate, last 12 months Margaret L. Pecoraro
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 Flynn 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, Robert W. Flynn's 82% approval rate is at the high end of the 47% to 82% range seen among the 4 judges who decided cases at the Portland ME office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific tendencies of the judge assigned to your hearing.
Robert W. Flynn's approval rate has varied over time, starting at 68% in 2016 and reaching 85% in the partial 2026 fiscal year data. While his rate has fluctuated, it remains a reflection of past decisions. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot select your judge, it is important to be prepared for any ALJ by working with an experienced attorney.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony presented in your file. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build the strongest possible case.
