Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The table below displays your judge's performance since 2016 alongside the range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the same. With 862 decisions on record, this data provides a clear view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Walters. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Walters'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
The approval rate for Sheila Walters has shown a declining trend across the 862 decisions on record since 2016. The data shows a 29% approval rate in 2016, which shifted to 23% in 2017 and 18% in 2018. This pattern reflects the judge's activity during the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Walters'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 Stockton hearing office
The most recent office on record for this judge is the Stockton hearing office. This office features a bench of 11 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can see the Stockton hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 23% to 82% on their since-2016 records.
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
Among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is Stockton, approval rates range from 23% to 82% since 2016. Sheila Walters is at the lower end of this range with a 23% approval rate. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of the judge's historical rate.
Yes, the data shows a declining trend in approvals. The rate moved from 29% in 2016 to 18% by 2018 across 862 total decisions. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
The 23% approval rate on record since 2016 represents past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical documentation is the most important factor. An attorney can help you build a strong case for your disability claim.
