Approval rates
The approval rate for John M. Prince is based on 3,203 decisions on record since 2016. The bench at the Cincinnati hearing office shows a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 31% to 77% for judges with records in this same timeframe. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Prince. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Prince'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 trend for John M. Prince has varied over time, starting at 63% in 2016 and reaching 83% in 2024. With 3,203 total decisions on record, the data indicates a consistent level of activity. The most recent data from 2025 shows an approval rate of 78%, which remains in line with the judge's established pattern over the last several years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Prince'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 Cincinnati hearing office
John M. Prince's most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, with decisions there through September 2025. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 14 judges. You can expect a standard hearing process governed by Social Security Administration regulations.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 77% on their respective records since 2016.
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
John M. Prince has an approval rate of 73% since 2016. This places him within the range of 31% to 77% observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might apply to your specific medical evidence.
Yes, the approval rate for John M. Prince has fluctuated over time. It began at 63% in 2016, reached 83% in 2024, and was 78% in 2025. These shifts are common in SSDI dockets, and an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
The 73% approval rate for John M. Prince reflects his past decisions since 2016, but it is not a prediction for your hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends on the specific evidence you present. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
