Approval rates
The approval rate for John L. Shailer is based on 372 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2019. This figure provides a clear view of how the judge has historically evaluated disability claims within the Columbus hearing office. When compared to the office-wide lifetime range of 34% to 83%, this data helps you set expectations for your upcoming hearing. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific case.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Shailer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
The record for John L. Shailer spans from 2016 to 2019, covering 372 lifetime decisions. The data shows an 85% approval rate in 2016, 85% in 2018, and 57% in 2019. Understanding these patterns is useful for your preparation, as the most recent period may reflect changes in case mix or evidence requirements.
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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Columbus hearing office
The Columbus hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a hub for disability adjudication in Ohio. The office maintains a bench of 17 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 63%. You can expect a structured environment where your evidence quality remains the primary driver of your case outcome. You can visit the Columbus hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 83% over their respective lifetime records. You should prepare your case thoroughly regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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 a lifetime approval rate of 83% across 372 lifetime decisions. This places him at the upper end of the lifetime approval-rate range for the 17 judges on record at the Columbus office, which spans from 34% to 83%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with these local trends.
Yes, the data shows a shift in approval patterns between 2016 and 2019. While the rate was 85% in both 2016 and 2018, it moved to 57% in 2019. An attorney can help you evaluate how these historical shifts might relate to the current requirements for your disability claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for the specific procedural style of whoever is assigned to your case.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. With 372 lifetime decisions on record, John L. Shailer's history provides context, but your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the necessary legal standards for approval.