Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context on how a judge's recent decisions align with broader trends. Jonathan Sprague's 76% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the Ft Lauderdale office average of 51%, the Florida state average of 59%, and the national average of 58% during that same period. These figures are based on 172 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
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, Jonathan Sprague has issued 3,542 decisions on record. The approval rate has shown variation over this period, moving from 54% in 2016 to 68% overall. While the annual approval rate has fluctuated, the most recent 12 months sit above the record since 2016.
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.
About the Ft Lauderdale hearing office
The Ft Lauderdale office is the most recent office on record for Jonathan Sprague as of July 2026. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office maintained a 51% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. You can find the full ALJ roster on the Ft Lauderdale hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Ft Lauderdale
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. At the Ft Lauderdale office, the 10 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 12% to 76% on their 12-month approval rates. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 10 of them deciding cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Sprague's 76%. All five last decided cases in Florida.
- 74% Approval rate, last 12 months Ryan Johannes
- 74% Approval rate, last 12 months Rossana L. D'Alessio
- 74% Approval rate, last 12 months Andrew Dixon III
- 73% Approval rate, last 12 months Carl C. McGhee
- 73% Approval rate, last 12 months Norman Hemming
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Sprague and the three closest side by side →
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's 76% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, sits at the high end of the 12% to 76% range seen among the 10 judges at the Ft Lauderdale office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific tendencies of the judge assigned to your case.
Jonathan Sprague has a 68% approval rate across 3,542 decisions on record since 2016. While yearly rates have fluctuated, the 76% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, remains a key data point for understanding recent activity. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your work history and medical limitations. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and your ability to meet SSA's disability criteria are the primary factors in a successful claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
