Approval rates
Judge Paddack has established a consistent record over 10 years on the bench, with a lifetime approval rate of 76% based on 17,686 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, this judge maintained an 86% approval rate, which stands 13 points above the Tallahassee FL office average and 18 points above the national average. This data reflects a large volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline. 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 Paddack'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 a decade on the bench, Judge Paddack has shown an upward trend in approval rates. After a period of stability between 2018 and 2020, the approval rate climbed steadily, reaching 85% in 2025. This recent performance reflects a continuation of a trend in favorable decisions. These patterns are useful for understanding the historical approach to case evidence and testimony over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Paddack'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 Paddack? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Tallahassee FL hearing office
The Tallahassee FL Hearing Office serves you across the Florida region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of cases to ensure timely access to hearings. The office-wide approval rate currently sits at 63%, reflecting the local administrative environment. You can see the Tallahassee FL Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Tallahassee FL office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 51% to 76%. Because assignment is outside of your control, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare. You can find more information on the office's overall performance on the 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.