Approval rates
The approval rate for Paula Garrety is based on 1,856 decisions on record since 2016. This figure is best understood by comparing it to the broader bench at the Wilkes Barre hearing office, where peers range from 27% to 57% in their own since-2016 records. These statistics provide a baseline for understanding how past cases have been resolved in this jurisdiction.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Garrety. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2023. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Garrety'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, Paula Garrety has maintained a consistent pattern of decision-making across 1,856 total decisions. The approval rate fluctuated, moving from 44% in 2016 to 35% by 2018. While the volume of decisions decreased in later years, the most recent data points show a higher percentage of approvals, such as 67% in 2022 and 62% in 2023.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Garrety'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
Paula Garrety's most recent office on record is the Wilkes Barre hearing office, which serves the surrounding region in Pennsylvania. This office is part of a larger network of hearing locations where 13 judges have their most recent record. You can see the Wilkes Barre hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wilkes Barre
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Wilkes Barre hearing office, there are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 27% to 57% on their since-2016 records.
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
Paula Garrety has a 40% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 27% to 57% observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Wilkes Barre hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Paula Garrety has fluctuated over the 1,856 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 44% in 2016 and dipped to 35% in 2018, more recent years have shown higher percentages. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, ensuring that assignments remain random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
