Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Anne-Marie Ofori-Acquaah has a 41% approval rate across her entire record since 2016, her latest-period approval rate is 45%. This is 16 percentage points lower than the Raleigh office's latest-period rate of 61%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for recent activity, though aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting outcomes for your specific case.
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 Ofori-Acquaah'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, Anne-Marie Ofori-Acquaah has issued 4,012 decisions. Her yearly approval rate has fluctuated, showing a low of 31% in 2021 and a recent high of 48% in 2024. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 45% approval rate. This recent activity reflects a continuation of the varied patterns observed throughout her time on record, suggesting that your case-specific evidence remains the primary driver of outcomes.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ofori-Acquaah'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 Raleigh hearing office
Anne-Marie Ofori-Acquaah's most recent office on record is the Raleigh hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the most critical factor in the outcome. You can see the Raleigh Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Raleigh office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 10 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates for this bench range from 27% to 74% since 2016. Preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Anne-Marie Ofori-Acquaah has a 41% approval rate on record since 2016. Across the Raleigh bench, judges range from 27% to 74% in their approval rates for the same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Her approval rate has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 31% in 2021 to 45% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a strong, evidence-based case with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities, pain levels, and work history. An attorney can help ensure your testimony is clear and that all relevant medical evidence is properly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Anne-Marie Ofori-Acquaah has a 41% approval rate since 2016, every case is decided based on its own unique medical and vocational evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
