Approval rates
When evaluating a judge's record, it is helpful to compare their performance against the broader bench. The 52% approval rate for Colin Fritz since 2016 sits within the 35% to 72% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville. In the latest reporting period, his 57% approval rate can be measured against the office, state, and national averages to provide context on recent trends.
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 Fritz'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, Colin Fritz has issued 2,824 decisions. His approval rate has fluctuated over this period, beginning at 44% in 2016 and reaching 57% in the most recent fiscal year to date. This trend reflects the variability inherent in the disability adjudication process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fritz'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 Greenville hearing office
Colin Fritz's most recent office on record is the Greenville hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you throughout South Carolina and is part of a regional network tasked with processing disability appeals. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 66%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greenville hearing office, and 7 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 35% to 72% 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
Colin Fritz has an approval rate of 52% since 2016. This falls within the 35% to 72% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greenville hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Colin Fritz has fluctuated over time. It started at 44% in 2016 and reached 57% in the most recent fiscal year to date. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to prepare for any outcome is a prudent step.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Colin Fritz has a 52% approval rate since 2016, your case will be decided based on the unique medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you identify the strengths of your case and address potential weaknesses before your hearing.
