Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for John L. Shailer based on 372 total decisions recorded between 2016 and 2019. These figures provide a statistical look at past activity within the Social Security Administration hearing system.
Judge Shailer is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Shailer isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Shailer'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
John L. Shailer's record spans from 2016 through 2019, covering 372 decisions in total. The approval rate was 85% in 2016, 85% in 2018, and 57% in 2019. This data reflects the outcomes of cases processed during that specific timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shailer'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 Columbus hearing office
The Columbus hearing office is the most recent office on record for John L. Shailer as of September 2019. The office serves as a hub for administrative hearings in the region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Columbus
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates on their records since 2016 range from 49% to 64%.
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
John L. Shailer has an 83% approval rate on record through 2019. This sits outside the 49% to 64% range observed among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these figures relate to your specific case.
The approval rate for John L. Shailer was 85% in 2016, 85% in 2018, and 57% in 2019. These figures are based on the 372 decisions on record through 2019. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to available judges. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of your assignment.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. The strength of your medical evidence and testimony remains the most important factor in your claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to present your strongest case.
