Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 46% approval rate for Randall C. Stout reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which we compare against the 32% to 76% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the same. With 441 decisions on record, this docket provides a look at past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Stout. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stout'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 rate for Randall C. Stout showed a shift across the 441 decisions on record since 2016. In 2016, the approval rate was 39% over 338 decisions, followed by 54% over 247 decisions in 2017. Such patterns in decision-making often reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stout'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
Randall C. Stout's most recent office on record is the Florence hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office serves claimants in Alabama. With 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench handles a variety of disability claims.
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 the Florence hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 76% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge has a different approach to evidence, understanding the bench as a whole is useful.
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
Randall C. Stout has a 46% approval rate on record since 2016. This falls within the 32% to 76% range of the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Florence hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively before this judge.
Yes, the data shows a trend of 39% in 2016 rising to 54% in 2017 across 441 total decisions on record. This pattern reflects the specific cases heard during that window. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have an attorney who can help you prepare for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records.
The 46% approval rate on record since 2016 represents past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the specific criteria for disability.
