Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Stalley's 93% approval rate is measured against the Mobile office's 75%, the Alabama state rate of 62%, and the national average of 58%. These figures reflect recent activity, providing a view of the judge's decision patterns relative to broader benchmarks.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stalley'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 2016, Judge Stalley has issued 2,887 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with rates reaching 93% in the most recent 12-month window. This recent performance is higher than the 81% approval rate recorded across the entire period since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stalley'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 Mobile hearing office
The Mobile hearing office serves you and other claimants in the region. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile, with 10 of them having decided cases in the latest file. The office maintained a 75% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. Among the 10 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 63% to 93% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile, though only 10 have decided cases in the latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Stalley's 93%. One of them last decided cases in Alabama. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Atlanta region.
- 88% Approval rate, last 12 months Ben E. Sheely
- 89% Approval rate, last 12 months Brent T. Asseff
- 97% Approval rate, last 12 months James Cole Cartledge
- 89% Approval rate, last 12 months Laura G. McHenry
- 88% Approval rate, last 12 months Melinda McIntyre
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Stalley and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Stalley's 93% approval rate is at the high end of the 63% to 93% range seen among the 10 judges who decided cases at the Mobile office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific judge assigned to your case.
Judge Stalley's approval rate has varied over time, with a 93% rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, compared to an 81% rate across all 2,887 decisions on record since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate reflects their history of past decisions and is not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific claim. The strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor in your case. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for the hearing.
