Approval rates
Judge Grace has presided over 6,993 lifetime decisions during a three-year tenure on the bench. When comparing recent performance to broader benchmarks, the judge's approval rate is 7 percentage points lower than the Tacoma WA office average and 7 percentage points lower than the national average. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of historical outcomes within this specific jurisdiction. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Grace'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 approval trend for Judge Grace has fluctuated during their time on the bench, moving from 50% in 2016 to 56% in 2017, before settling at 49% in 2018. This pattern reflects a period of adjustment in case volume and decision-making consistency. While the most recent data shows a slight decline compared to the peak, the lifetime average remains stable. These shifts are common as judges refine their approach to complex medical and vocational evidence over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Grace'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.
Hearing with Judge Grace? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tacoma WA hearing office
The Tacoma WA hearing office serves a significant population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 58%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history, as the office adheres to strict standards. You can see the Tacoma WA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
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. Within the Tacoma WA hearing office, the bench consists of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 31% to 72%. This variance highlights why understanding the local judicial environment is important for your case. You can find more information on the Tacoma WA hearing office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.