Approval rates
When evaluating a judge's history, it is helpful to compare their performance against the broader bench at their most recent office. The 54% approval rate for Paul Reams is based on 1,084 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 28% to 81% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Reams. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Reams'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 Paul Reams remained steady throughout his time on record between 2016 and 2018. Starting with a 54% approval rate in 2016, the figures were 56% in 2017 and 53% in 2018. With 1,084 total decisions on record since 2016, this pattern reflects a consistent approach to case evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reams'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 Mobile hearing office
Paul Reams's most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. This office serves claimants across the region and is part of a larger network of hearing offices in Alabama. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench represents a variety of decision patterns.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 81% on their since-2016 records. Because assignment is outside of your control, the best strategy is to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
Paul Reams has a 54% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 28% to 81% range of the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Paul Reams remained steady, moving from 54% in 2016 to 56% in 2017 and 53% in 2018. This consistency across 1,084 decisions on record since 2016 suggests a stable pattern. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any ALJ.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Paul Reams approved 54% of cases on record since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for your hearing.
