Approval rates
Brian W. Lemoine's approval rates are evaluated against the broader performance of the Hartford bench. In the latest reporting period, his 77% approval rate sits notably higher than the office-wide rate of 59%, the state rate of 54%, and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical snapshot of his recent activity. 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 Lemoine'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, Brian W. Lemoine has presided over 3,485 decisions. His approval trend has remained relatively steady, with yearly rates fluctuating between 59% and 80% over the last decade. The most recent period shows a 77% approval rate, which aligns closely with his long-term performance. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating disability claims, though each case is ultimately decided on its own unique merits and evidentiary record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lemoine'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Hartford hearing office
The Hartford hearing office serves you throughout Connecticut and the surrounding region. With a bench of 9 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the review of medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Hartford Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 27% to 74% lifetime.
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
In the latest reporting period, Brian W. Lemoine's 77% approval rate is 18 percentage points higher than the Hartford office average of 59%. While he sits at the higher end of the local bench, every case depends on the strength of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you determine how to best present your case to this judge.
Brian W. Lemoine's approval rate has remained steady over his 3,485 decisions since 2016. While yearly fluctuations occur, his performance has consistently stayed within a range that reflects a stable decision-making pattern. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome by working with an experienced attorney.
A 74% lifetime approval rate indicates how Brian W. Lemoine has ruled in past cases, but it is not a guarantee of your outcome. Your success depends on the specific evidence, medical records, and testimony you provide at your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration.