Approval rates
The 67% approval rate for James H. Packer reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 37% to 75% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office. With 1,642 decisions on record, the data provides a view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Packer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Packer'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
The approval rate for James H. Packer shows a trend across the 1,642 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 65% in 2016, the rate remained steady before shifting in the final years of the record, reaching 75% in 2020. This pattern indicates a shift in outcomes over the four-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Packer'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 Boston hearing office
The Boston hearing office serves you if you are in Massachusetts and the surrounding region. As of the most recent record in September 2020, this office maintained a bench of 15 judges. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Boston
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 37% to 75% since 2016. Because of this variance, understanding the broader bench context is helpful for your preparation.
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
James H. Packer has an approval rate of 67% based on 1,642 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 37% to 75% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Boston hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a trend of increasing approval rates over the record window. The rate moved from 65% in 2016 to 75% by 2020. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
The 67% approval rate for James H. Packer is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your individual case depends on the specific medical evidence and vocational factors you present. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
