Approval rates
Judge Capece has issued 4,214 lifetime decisions during his 3 years on the bench. His latest approval rate of 51% is 6 points lower than the Columbia SC office average and 6 points below the national average. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable view of his decision-making history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Capece'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 joining the bench in 2023, your judge has seen his approval rate shift from 57% in his first year to 50% in the most recent reporting period. This trend over 4,214 lifetime decisions suggests a consistent approach to the evidence presented in his courtroom. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern as he manages his current caseload. Understanding this trajectory helps in preparing a case that directly addresses the evidentiary requirements he prioritizes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Capece'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 Capece? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Columbia SC hearing office
The Columbia SC hearing office serves you throughout South Carolina, managing a high volume of disability appeals. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 58%, which is consistent with national trends. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on verifying the severity of your impairments under SSA guidelines. You can see the Columbia SC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Judge Capece is essentially random. Across the Columbia SC office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 51% to 61%. This variation highlights that while the judge matters, the core of your case remains the medical and vocational evidence you provide. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.