Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the 60% approval rate on record since 2023 provides a broad view of activity, the latest reporting period shows a 63% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 8 percentage points above the office average of 55% and 14 percentage points above the state average of 49%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your hearing.
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 Galloway'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 data shows a steady upward trend in approval rates since 2023. In 2024, the approval rate was 56% over 367 decisions, rising to 60% over 508 decisions in 2025. The 2026 fiscal year-to-date period shows a 65% approval rate over 427 decisions. This recent activity is consistent with the broader record of 1,153 decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Galloway'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 Norfolk hearing office
Christopher Galloway's most recent office on record is the Norfolk hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 12 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 55%, providing a baseline for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Norfolk
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 48% to 60% on their records.
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
Judge Galloway's latest-period approval rate of 63% is 8 percentage points higher than the Norfolk office average of 55%. While this data provides context, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a rising trend. The approval rate moved from 56% in 2024 to 60% in 2025, reaching 65% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends can be part of your preparation, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence fits this pattern.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Because you cannot control your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you organize your records to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
The 60% approval rate on record since 2023 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you organize your records to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
