Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Joseph Shortill based on his record since 2016. These figures are derived from 280 total decisions, providing a statistical view of his past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Shortill is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Shortill isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Shortill'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
Joseph Shortill's record encompasses 280 decisions made between 2016 and 2017. The data shows an approval rate of 85% over this period. The yearly trend indicates a shift from 85% in 2016 to 75% in 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Shortill'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 Portland ME hearing office
The Portland ME hearing office serves you across the state of Maine. This office has a bench of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where evidence is reviewed by the assigned judge.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Portland ME
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Portland ME, the 4 judges who decided cases in the latest SSA file range from 49% to 76% on their records since 2016.
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
Joseph Shortill has an 85% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits above the 49% to 76% range seen among the 4 judges at this office who decided cases in the latest SSA file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Joseph Shortill's approval rate was 85% in 2016 and 75% in 2017. These figures represent his activity on record through September 2017. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using an automated workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Approval rates are based on past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your file is complete and ready for review.
