Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 53% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 31% to 77% range observed among the bench at the Cincinnati hearing office over the same period. While latest-period benchmarks provide broader context, they do not replace the specific record of an individual judge. These aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Shaughnessy. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Shaughnessy'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
Your judge's approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, moving from 55% in 2016 to a low of 48% in 2022, before reaching 57% in 2025. With 3,463 total decisions on record, the judge has maintained a consistent volume of activity. The recent data suggests a return to higher approval levels compared to the 2020-2022 period. This pattern may reflect shifts in the complexity of cases or changes in the evidence you present during your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shaughnessy'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 Cincinnati hearing office
Anne Shaughnessy's most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, which serves claimants across the region. This office features a bench of 14 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 52%, providing a baseline for the local hearing environment. You can see the Cincinnati Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, and their approval rates vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 77% on their since-2016 records. Five of these judges decided cases here in the SSA's latest file. For your preparation, the guidance 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
Judge Shaughnessy has an approval rate of 53% on record since 2016. This falls within the 31% to 77% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare for a hearing before this specific judge.
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 55% in 2016 and reaching 57% in 2025. These variations are common in judicial dockets and may be influenced by the types of cases assigned. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, ensuring that assignments remain random. Because you cannot select your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Judge Shaughnessy has approved 53% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
