Approval rates
To understand how Shannon Mashburn compares to the broader bench, we look at approval rates across the same reporting periods. While the overall approval rate since 2016 is 65%, recent data shows a 74% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 6 points above the 68% office average, 19 points above the 55% state average, and 16 points above the 58% national average.
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 Mashburn'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 Shannon Mashburn has fluctuated since 2016, starting at 77% in 2017 before trending through a period of lower rates between 2018 and 2022. More recently, the approval rate has risen to 74% in the latest partial 2026 period. This recent performance reflects a shift compared to the earlier record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mashburn'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 Tupelo hearing office
The Tupelo hearing office is the most recent office on record for 7 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 68%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tupelo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and their approval rates range from 19% to 66% based on their records since 2016.
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
Shannon Mashburn's 65% approval rate since 2016 sits within the range of 19% to 66% for the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time, moving from 77% in 2017 to a lower period between 2018 and 2022, before rising to 74% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you develop a strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case that addresses the common standards applied by any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony regarding your ability to work. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your eligibility depends on the evidence of your disability, but an attorney can help you understand how to best present your case to meet SSA requirements.
