Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While Gregory J. Froehlich has an approval rate of 38% since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 45%, which is 6 percentage points below the Jacksonville office's latest-period average of 51%. These figures are drawn from a docket of 3,674 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Froehlich'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated. After recording 35% in 2016, 32% in 2017, 30% in 2018, 33% in 2019, 27% in 2020, and 34% in 2021, the rate rose to 45% in 2022, 43% in 2023, 44% in 2024, 57% in 2025, and 45% in the partial 2026 fiscal year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Froehlich'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 Jacksonville hearing office
The Jacksonville hearing office is the most recent office on record for 17 judges. These judges maintain a collective latest-period approval rate of 51%. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. Within the Jacksonville hearing office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a range of approval rates from 33% to 78% 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
Gregory J. Froehlich has an approval rate of 38% on record since 2016. Across the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville office, approval rates range from 33% to 78%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Gregory J. Froehlich has fluctuated. While the rate was 35% in 2016, it reached 57% in 2025 before settling at 45% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date data. An attorney can help you build a stronger case by understanding these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Gregory J. Froehlich has a 38% approval rate since 2016, your case's success depends on the specific medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
