Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 43% approval rate for Ronald Reeves represents his total record since 2016, which you can evaluate against the 28% to 85% range observed among the bench at the Birmingham office during that same period. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from 2,572 decisions.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Reeves. 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 Reeves'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
Since 2016, the approval rate for Ronald Reeves has shown variance. While the rate remained between 40% and 44% for several years, it dipped to 36% in 2022 before trending upward to 67% in 2025. This shift illustrates how your judge has approached his docket over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reeves'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 Birmingham hearing office
The Birmingham hearing office serves you and other claimants across Alabama and the surrounding region. With 23 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it manages a significant volume of disability hearings. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 49%, reflecting the broader environment in which your case is decided.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Birmingham
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the Birmingham office, with approval rates ranging from 28% to 85% since 2016. Because each judge brings a different perspective to the hearing room, understanding the office-wide landscape is helpful.
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
Ronald Reeves has an approval rate of 43% based on 2,572 decisions since 2016. This falls within the 28% to 85% range of approval rates for the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the Birmingham office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Ronald Reeves has fluctuated over time. While it remained near 40% for much of the period between 2016 and 2021, it reached 67% in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare your testimony for the hearing.
The 43% approval rate for Ronald Reeves is a historical statistic, not a prediction of your outcome. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
