Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period. The 47% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of history, while latest-period figures allow for a current comparison against the Florence office, state, and national averages. With 3,249 decisions on record, the data offers a look at past outcomes. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific predictions for your upcoming 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 Grimes'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 October 2016, your approval rate for James K. Grimes has fluctuated. After starting at 62% in 2017, the rate trended downward before seeing a recovery in 2022 and 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 45% approval rate. This latest period reflects a continuation of the variance observed in recent years, which may be influenced by changes in case complexity or the specific evidence presented in your hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Grimes'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 Florence hearing office
The most recent office on record for James K. Grimes is the Florence hearing office, which serves claimants in Alabama. With 9 judges on the bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 47%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the Florence hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Florence
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Florence hearing office, there are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench range from 32% to 76% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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 K. Grimes has a 47% approval rate on record since 2016. Across the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Florence hearing office, approval rates range from 32% to 76%. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for James K. Grimes has fluctuated over time. It reached a high of 62% in 2017 and has seen various shifts, with the 2026 fiscal year-to-date rate at 45%. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these historical patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Having an attorney present can help ensure your evidence is presented clearly to the judge.
The 47% approval rate for James K. Grimes reflects past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable outcome. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
