Approval rates
The approval rate for Odell Grooms reflects a substantial body of work spanning nearly a decade of hearings. When evaluating this figure, it is helpful to consider the broader context of the Sacramento hearing office, where lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 39% to 80%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case is a meaningful factor in the hearing process. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Grooms. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Grooms'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 2016, the record for Odell Grooms shows a varied approval pattern that has shifted over time. While the early years of the data window saw approval rates consistently in the 60% range, more recent periods have shown increased volatility. Understanding this pattern helps you see that the judge's approach is not static, and the latest period reflects a departure from the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Grooms'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 Sacramento hearing office
The Sacramento hearing office serves a wide region in California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 20 judges on record, the office handles a diverse caseload that requires careful preparation of medical and vocational evidence. You can expect a formal proceeding where the focus remains on the specific documentation of your impairment. You can see the Sacramento Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Sacramento hearing office is staffed by a diverse group of jurists, with 20 judges on record since 2016, 6 of whom are reported in the latest SSA data. Because the SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, you cannot request a specific judge, and your assignment is effectively random. Approval rates across this office vary significantly, spanning from 39% to 80% on a lifetime basis. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Odell Grooms maintains a lifetime approval rate of 65% across 854 decisions. This places the judge within the broader office-wide range of 39% to 80% seen among the 20 judges on record at the Sacramento office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence to align with the standards of this specific hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Odell Grooms has fluctuated since 2016. While the rate remained relatively steady for several years, recent data shows a decline in approvals compared to the historical average. An attorney can help you evaluate how these shifts might impact the strategy for your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across the office. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is vital to have an attorney help you prepare a robust case that can succeed regardless of who presides.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert appear before the judge. The judge will ask questions about your work history, your medical limitations, and your ability to perform daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are clearly organized for the judge's review.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. While the 65% lifetime rate for Odell Grooms provides context, the success of your case depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well your limitations are documented. An attorney can help you bridge the gap between your medical records and the legal requirements for disability.