Approval rates
The 67% approval rate for Mary Gallagher Dilley reflects her total decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 21% to 93% range of the 22 other judges whose most recent office on record is also Seattle. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office's bench.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dilley. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dilley'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 Mary Gallagher Dilley has shown a steady trend across her 1,511 decisions on record since 2016. Starting at 62% in 2016, the rate reached 70% by 2020. This pattern indicates a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the recorded period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dilley'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 Seattle hearing office
The Seattle hearing office is the most recent office on record for 22 judges as of September 2020. This bench reflects a diverse range of approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Seattle
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 93% on their since-2016 records. Because of this variance, understanding the bench is helpful for your preparation.
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
Mary Gallagher Dilley has an approval rate of 67% based on 1,511 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 21% to 93% range observed among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Seattle hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your specific evidence to this bench.
The approval rate for Mary Gallagher Dilley has remained steady, moving from 62% in 2016 to 70% in 2020. This indicates a consistent approach to case evaluation over the period of her record. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome with the help of a qualified attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you navigate these questions and ensure your case is presented effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical observation based on past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Mary Gallagher Dilley has a 67% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
