Approval rates
Judge McGarry maintains a lifetime approval rate of 47% based on 4,066 decisions. When compared to the latest reporting period, her rate sits 7 points below the Jacksonville office average and 11 points below the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a substantial docket, providing a clear view of historical trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 McGarry'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
Over her 2 years on the bench, Judge McGarry has shown a steady trend in her decision-making. Her approval rate moved from 44% in 2016 to 49% in 2017, reflecting a consistent approach to the cases before her. This pattern suggests a stable judicial philosophy that has remained relatively predictable throughout her tenure. You can find more information on the Jacksonville Hearing Office page.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McGarry'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.
Hearing with Judge McGarry? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Jacksonville hearing office
The Jacksonville Hearing Office serves a large population across Florida, managing a high volume of SSDI cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 54%, which provides a local benchmark for your hearing. You can expect a formal environment where the focus remains on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Jacksonville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Jacksonville office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 38% to 70%. While your assigned judge is outside of your control, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent. You can view the full roster of judges on the Jacksonville Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.