Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Laurel J. Greene based on the 1,269 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2019. Because this judge is not in the most recent SSA file, these figures represent the complete data available for this period. These statistics provide a historical view of the judge's bench activity.
Judge Greene is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Greene isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Greene'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
Laurel J. Greene's approval rate remained consistent throughout the period of 2016 through 2019. The data shows an 84% approval rate in 2016 and 2017, which shifted to 87% in 2018 and 2019. This record includes a total of 1,269 decisions. The yearly trend shows a steady pattern across the available data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Greene'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 St Petersburg FL hearing office
The St Petersburg FL hearing office is the most recent office on record for Laurel J. Greene as of September 2019. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is St Petersburg FL
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. While Laurel J. Greene is no longer in the latest file, the 5 judges who decided cases at the St Petersburg FL office in the most recent data range from 51% to 69% on their since-2016 records. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, though only 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file.
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
Laurel J. Greene's 85% approval rate on record through 2019 is higher than the 51% to 69% range observed among the 5 judges who decided cases at this office in the most recent SSA file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
Laurel J. Greene's approval rate was 84% in 2016 and 2017, and it moved to 87% in 2018 and 2019. This indicates a steady pattern across the 1,269 decisions on record. An attorney can help you evaluate your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your compliance with disability requirements are the primary factors in a successful claim. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to meet these standards.
