Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Mary M. Renfroe's 57% approval rate on record since February 2023 provides a baseline, which you can evaluate against the 41% to 88% range seen among other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. In the most recent reporting period, her 56% approval rate aligns with the office average of 56%. These 808 decisions on record provide the statistical context for her historical decision-making patterns.
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 Renfroe'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 February 2023, Mary M. Renfroe has issued 808 decisions. Her approval rate was 54% in 2023, 57% in 2024, 61% in 2025, and 54% in 2026. This pattern reflects the ongoing nature of her docket and the influence of varying case evidence.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Renfroe'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 Kingsport hearing office
The Kingsport hearing office is the most recent office on record for Mary M. Renfroe as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges with diverse decision patterns and an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. Approval rates among this bench vary, ranging from 41% to 88% on their since-2016 records.
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
Mary M. Renfroe's 57% approval rate on record since February 2023 sits within the 41% to 88% range established by the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. Because case assignment is random, your outcome depends more on the specific evidence in your file than on the judge's historical average. An attorney can help you prepare a case that meets the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Mary M. Renfroe's approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 54% in 2023, rising to 61% in 2025, and sitting at 54% for the partial 2026 fiscal year. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases or evidence presented to the court. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might affect your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, ensuring that assignments remain random. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony regarding your ability to work. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your past work and current limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your testimony is clear and your medical evidence is properly presented.
