Approval rates
When evaluating a judge's history, it is helpful to compare their performance against the broader bench. The 52% approval rate for Guy Koster sits within the 33% to 78% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office. In the most recent reporting period, Guy Koster maintained a 65% approval rate, which is 14 points higher than the office average of 51%. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
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 Koster'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, Guy Koster has issued 2,483 decisions. The yearly trend shows an upward trajectory in approval rates, rising from 39% in 2016 to 65% in the most recent partial year of 2026. This shift reflects changes in the cases heard and the evidence presented over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Koster'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 Jacksonville hearing office
The Jacksonville hearing office serves claimants across northern Florida. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which maintains a latest-period approval rate of 51%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process where your medical documentation and testimony are the primary factors in the decision. You can visit the Jacksonville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jacksonville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office, and 10 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 33% to 78% 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
Guy Koster has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This falls within the 33% to 78% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Jacksonville hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Guy Koster has trended upward over time. Starting at 39% in 2016, the rate reached 65% in the most recent partial year of 2026. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process essentially random. You cannot choose your judge, but you can work with an attorney to ensure your case is as strong as possible regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to present the strongest case.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Guy Koster will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends heavily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.
