Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing, it is helpful to compare Christopher Messina's performance against the broader bench. While his 68% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a baseline, the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the St Petersburg FL OHO show a wide range of outcomes. In the most recent reporting period, Christopher Messina's 70% approval rate sits 7 points above the office average.
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 Messina'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, Christopher Messina has maintained a consistent pattern across his 2,377 decisions. While approval rates fluctuated between a low of 61% in 2016 and a high of 81% in 2024, the recent trend shows a steady alignment with his long-term average. The 70% approval rate observed in the latest reporting period reflects a continuation of this stable pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Messina'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 St Petersburg Fl OHO hearing office
The St Petersburg FL OHO is the most recent office on record for Christopher Messina, with his last decision there dated July 2026. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims, with an office-wide latest approval rate of 63%. You can see the St Petersburg FL OHO hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is St Petersburg Fl OHO
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the St Petersburg FL OHO. Approval rates for this bench vary significantly, ranging from 35% to 85% on their since-2016 records.
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, Christopher Messina's 70% approval rate is 7 points higher than the 63% office average. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this hearing office.
Christopher Messina's approval rate has seen yearly variations, ranging from 61% in 2016 to 81% in 2024, but it has remained generally stable over the long term. His 68% approval rate on record since 2016 provides helpful context for understanding his historical decision patterns. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you organize your evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your disability.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Christopher Messina has approved 68% of cases since 2016, your success depends on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your file before your hearing date.
