Approval rates
Judge Galloway currently holds a 60% approval rate in the latest reporting period, which aligns with the Charleston WV office average and exceeds the state average of 56%. With a docket spanning 4,492 lifetime decisions, his data provides a stable look at his judicial activity. These figures represent a probability based on historical performance rather than a guarantee for your specific hearing.
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 Galloway'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 taking the bench in 2023, Judge Galloway has presided over 4,492 decisions. His approval rate showed a slight dip in 2024 before rising to 61% in 2025, indicating a steady trend in his decision-making process. The latest period reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, with a 47% fully-favorable rate. These trends suggest a consistent approach to evaluating evidence, though recent shifts may reflect changes in the complexity of the cases assigned to his docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Galloway'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 Galloway? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Charleston WV hearing office
The Charleston WV Hearing Office serves a significant population across the region, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the diverse nature of the cases heard in this jurisdiction. You can expect a formal environment where medical documentation is the primary driver of success. You can visit the Charleston WV Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Across the Charleston WV office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 39% to 79%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent 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.