Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 52% approval rate for Barbara Sheehe reflects her total decisions on record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 43% to 80% range observed among other judges whose most recent office on record is also Akron OH. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached disability claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Sheehe. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Sheehe'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 approval pattern for Barbara Sheehe is based on 106 decisions on record since 2016. During 2016, the approval rate was 52%. Because this data window captures a specific period of activity, it serves as a historical reference point for the judge's past decision-making at the Akron OH office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sheehe'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 Akron OH hearing office
Barbara Sheehe's most recent office on record is the Akron OH hearing office, where she recorded decisions through September 2016. This office serves you if you are in the region and is part of a broader network of SSA hearing locations. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH, and their approval rates since 2016 vary from 43% to 80%. This variation highlights why understanding the bench is a common part of your hearing preparation.
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
Barbara Sheehe has a 52% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 43% to 80% range of approval rates for the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Akron OH. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
The approval rate for Barbara Sheehe was 52% during 2016. Because the data window for her record is limited to 2016, the rate is fixed at that level. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence may be presented to best fit the requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across all hearing offices. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An approval rate is a summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Barbara Sheehe approved 52% of the 106 cases on record since 2016, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare your case to ensure all relevant evidence is presented clearly to the judge.
