Approval rates
The approval rate for James W. Sherry is based on 429 decisions on record since 2016. This figure provides a baseline for understanding his past activity compared to the 30% to 78% range observed among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office. These statistics rely on a significant volume of cases to ensure the data is representative of past trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Sherry. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Sherry'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 January 2016, James W. Sherry has maintained a consistent pattern in his decisions. His approval rate was 57% in 2016 and 54% in 2017 across a total of 429 decisions on record. This trend indicates a steady approach to evaluating disability claims over the recorded period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sherry'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 Tacoma hearing office
The Tacoma hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region. With 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, it handles a diverse caseload of disability claims. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical documentation is the primary factor in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence.
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
James W. Sherry has an approval rate of 56% on his 429 decisions on record since 2016. This places him within the 30% to 78% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
His approval rate moved from 57% in 2016 to 54% in 2017. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation over the period for which we have data. An attorney can help you understand how this history might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is ultimately assigned to your case.
The 56% approval rate for James W. Sherry represents his past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
