Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While Michele Stolls has a 56% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period approval rate is 44%, which sits 1 point below the Wilkes Barre office average of 45%. These figures are derived from 3,951 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Stolls'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
Michele Stolls has presided over 3,951 decisions since 2016. Her yearly approval trend shows a period of higher activity in the late 2010s, followed by a transition to a more moderate approval range in recent years. While the latest-period approval rate of 44% shows a shift compared to her historical average, it remains within the broader context of her career record. This pattern reflects the ongoing evolution of her caseload and the specific evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stolls'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 Wilkes Barre hearing office
The Wilkes Barre hearing office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 13 judges on record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 45%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Wilkes Barre Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Michele Stolls is essentially random. There are 13 judges on record at this office since 2016, 11 of whom reported in the latest period. The lifetime approval rates for this bench range from 27% to 57%, highlighting the variance you might encounter.
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
Michele Stolls has a lifetime approval rate of 56% across 3,951 decisions. This places her within the office-wide lifetime range of 27% to 57%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the expectations of judges in this office.
Yes, the data shows a yearly trend that has fluctuated since 2016. While she reached higher approval levels in 2018, her more recent decisions reflect a 44% approval rate in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the current standards of this judge.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across the Wilkes Barre office. Because assignment is random, it is vital to have a strong case ready for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and often a vocational or medical expert testify. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your limitations are clearly documented.
A judge's approval rate is a historical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. While Michele Stolls has a 56% lifetime approval rate, your result depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your disability. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the specific requirements of the SSA.