Approval rates
The approval rates for James Garrett reflect a significant volume of cases heard since 2016. When evaluating these figures, compare them against the broader Elkins Park office, where individual lifetime approval rates span from 33% to 82%. This range highlights the importance of understanding your specific judge's history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Garrett. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Garrett'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 Garrett has presided over 965 lifetime decisions since the data window began in 2016. His yearly approval trend shows a high point in 2016 at 90%, followed by rates of 77% in 2017, 73% in 2018, and 76% in 2019. This pattern reflects his consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the course of his recorded tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Garrett'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Elkins Park hearing office
The Elkins Park hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, maintaining a diverse bench of 25 judges on record. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 61%.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 25 judges on record at this office since 2016, 11 of whom reported in the latest period. Because approval rates vary widely across the bench, from 33% to 82%, knowing your judge's history is a standard part of your hearing preparation.
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
James Garrett has a lifetime approval rate of 80%, which sits at the higher end of the 33% to 82% range observed among the 25 judges on record at the Elkins Park office. While this rate is notable, your case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively before this judge.
Yes, the data shows a shift from an initial 90% approval rate in 2016 to 77% in 2017, 73% in 2018, and 76% in 2019. This trend is based on 965 lifetime decisions and suggests a consistent evaluation standard. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, a free case review can provide clarity. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an Administrative Law Judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While James Garrett has an 80% lifetime approval rate, your outcome will ultimately depend on the quality of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.