Approval rates
The approval rates for Jonathan Sprague reflect a career-long record of 68% across 3,542 decisions. When looking at the most recent reporting period, his 78% approval rate sits 27 points above the Ft Lauderdale office average of 51%. These figures provide a statistical look at how cases have been decided at this office.
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
Since 2016, the approval trend for Jonathan Sprague has shown a steady upward trajectory. After starting at 54% in 2016, the rate has climbed and stabilized, reaching 78% in the most recent period. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the last decade.
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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Ft Lauderdale hearing office
The Ft Lauderdale hearing office serves you and other claimants across Florida and the surrounding region. With 19 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 51%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on your medical and vocational evidence. See the Ft Lauderdale Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 87% on lifetime 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
Jonathan Sprague has a lifetime approval rate of 68% across 3,542 decisions. This places him within the broader range of 21% to 87% seen among the 19 judges on record at the Ft Lauderdale office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a clear upward trend in approval rates since 2016. While his early record started at 54%, recent years have seen rates stabilize around 76% to 78%. An attorney can help you prepare your case by analyzing how these trends might relate to your specific medical documentation.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have your case fully prepared regardless of which judge is assigned. An attorney can help you ensure your case is ready for any judge.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Jonathan Sprague has a 68% lifetime approval rate, the success of your case depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.