Approval rates
Judge Sprague has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 54% over a decade of service. In the most recent reporting period, this rate tracks 4 points below the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 21,251 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of the judge's historical decision-making. 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 Sprague'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
Over 10 years on the bench, your judge has seen fluctuations in approval rates, ranging from a low of 47% in 2023 to a high of 60% in 2017 and 2024. The data shows a pattern of variability, with the most recent period showing a return to the 54% lifetime average. This suggests that while individual years may see shifts in case outcomes, the judge's overall approach remains anchored to a consistent historical baseline.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sprague'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.
Hearing with Judge Sprague? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Petersburg FL hearing office
The St Petersburg FL Hearing Office serves a large population in Florida, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 63%, which is higher than the current national average. You can expect a rigorous review process where your evidence quality is paramount to a successful outcome. You can see the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the St Petersburg FL Hearing Office, the bench is comprised of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 38% to 75%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case is a meaningful factor in the hearing process. You can review the full roster on the St Petersburg FL hearing office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.