Approval rates
Comparing a judge's lifetime performance against recent office and national benchmarks provides a clearer picture of their decision-making history. With over 21,197 decisions rendered during his 10-year tenure, Judge Porter's data offers a statistically significant look at his approach to disability claims. While his latest approval rate of 49% shows how he is currently handling cases, it is important to view this in the context of the broader Jacksonville office and national averages. 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 Porter'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 the past decade, Judge Porter's approval rate has shown a gradual evolution, moving from the high 30s and low 40s in his early years to a peak of 53% in 2024. This trend suggests a steady, long-term approach to evaluating evidence, with the most recent period reflecting a slight adjustment from that 2024 peak. His lifetime average of 44% remains the most reliable indicator of his overall judicial philosophy. These patterns are common as judges refine their interpretation of complex medical and vocational evidence over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Porter'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 Porter? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Jacksonville hearing office
The Jacksonville Hearing Office serves a broad population across Florida, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the regional caseload. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Jacksonville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Porter is essentially random. Across the Jacksonville Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 38% to 70%. This variance highlights why understanding the specific tendencies of your assigned judge is a common part of the preparation process. The office's 6 ALJs provide a diverse range of decision-making styles.
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.