Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's 45% approval rate covers the entire record since 2016, the latest-period data shows a 38% approval rate, which sits 9 percentage points below the Florence office's latest-period average of 47%. These figures are drawn from a docket of 3,563 decisions. 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 Richey'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 Mallette Richey has fluctuated since 2016. After an initial period of higher approval rates, the data shows a decline toward 2021 before stabilizing in recent years. The most recent reporting period shows a 38% approval rate, which reflects a continuation of the recent, more conservative trend in case outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Richey'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 Florence hearing office
The Florence hearing office, which serves you in Alabama, is the most recent office on record for Mallette Richey as of July 2026. This office operates with a bench of 9 judges who manage a diverse caseload of disability claims. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is paramount to your outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Florence
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 6 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. These peers show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 32% to 76% on their 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
Mallette Richey's 45% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 32% to 76% range observed among the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is Florence. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards this judge often requires.
Yes, the data shows a shift over time. While the rate was 61% in 2016, it reached 39% in the partial 2026 fiscal year data. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert appear before the judge. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine if your condition meets the criteria for disability. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is presented effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Mallette Richey has approved 45% of cases since 2016, your individual outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence to strengthen your claim.
