Approval rates
David J. Shea has a 59% approval rate across 2,733 decisions on record since 2017. In the latest reporting period, his 71% approval rate is 10 percentage points above the Raleigh office average of 61%. These figures reflect past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing.
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 Shea'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 2017, the approval trend for David J. Shea has shown an upward trajectory. After starting at 41% in 2018, the annual approval rate reached 74% in 2025. The most recent fiscal year-to-date figure of 71% indicates that this approval level has remained stable.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shea'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
The Raleigh hearing office is the most recent office on record for David J. Shea as of July 2026. This office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 61%. The quality of your evidence remains the primary driver of your case outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Raleigh
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the Raleigh hearing office, there are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this bench vary, ranging from 27% to 74% on their since-2016 records.
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
In the latest reporting period, David J. Shea approved 71% of cases, which is 10 percentage points higher than the Raleigh office average of 61%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for David J. Shea has trended upward over time. His annual approval rate rose from 41% in 2018 to 74% in 2025, with the latest period holding at 71%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence in your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a strong case that meets the standards of any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how David J. Shea will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
