Approval rates
The approval rate for William R. Stanley is based on 2,203 decisions on record since 2017. The 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown show an approval-rate range between 21% and 67%. These figures provide a baseline for understanding how individual judicial patterns align with local office trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Stanley. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stanley'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated. After an approval rate of 57% in 2017, the annual figures were 45% in 2018, 54% in 2019, 44% in 2020, 46% in 2021, 42% in 2022, 48% in 2023, and 46% in 2024. This pattern indicates that while the rate has seen periodic shifts, it has remained relatively consistent over the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stanley'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 Morgantown hearing office
The Morgantown hearing office is the most recent office on record for 10 judges. While the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, individual outcomes depend on the specific evidence and testimony presented in your case. You can visit the Morgantown hearing office page to see the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Morgantown
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Morgantown hearing office, there are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, from 21% to 67%, highlighting that the specific judge assigned to your case can be a significant factor.
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
William R. Stanley has an approval rate of 47% since 2017, which sits within the 21% to 67% range observed among the 10 judges at the Morgantown office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate for William R. Stanley has fluctuated over time, starting at 57% in 2017 and reaching 46% in 2024. These variations are common and often depend on the specific types of cases and evidence presented each year. An attorney can help you prepare your case to address these variables.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. Having a qualified attorney can help you organize your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
The 47% approval rate for William R. Stanley represents a historical pattern of past decisions and is not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical documentation and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
