Approval rates
Evaluating your judge's history requires looking at the data in context. The 40% approval rate for G. Ross Wheatley is based on 630 decisions on record since January 2016. When compared to the broader bench at the Stockton hearing office, where approval rates for judges range from 23% to 82% over the same period, you can see how individual patterns vary.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Wheatley. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Wheatley'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 G. Ross Wheatley remained steady throughout the period of available data. With 630 decisions on record since January 2016, the yearly approval rate was 40% in 2016 and 39% in 2017. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation during the time the judge was active at the Stockton hearing office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wheatley'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 Stockton hearing office serves you across California. There are 11 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a formal administrative process where your evidence quality is the primary factor in the outcome.
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 the Stockton hearing office, 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
G. Ross Wheatley has an approval rate of 40% based on 630 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 23% to 82% observed among the 11 judges whose most recent office on record is the Stockton hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific bench.
The approval rate remained steady, moving from 40% in 2016 to 39% in 2017. This consistency across 630 decisions on record suggests a stable pattern of evaluation. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, you should be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for the types of questions this judge may ask.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. A judge's history is only one factor; the strength of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations are often more critical. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
