Approval rates
Judge Williams has presided over 22,013 lifetime decisions during his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 52%, which remains lower than the current Raleigh office average of 62% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the judge's history, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific 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 Williams'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 trend for Judge Williams has shown a gradual increase over the last decade, rising from 42% in 2016 to a peak of 58% in 2024, before settling at 52% in the most recent period. This trajectory suggests a shift in decision-making patterns over time. While the latest rate is lower than the office average, the long-term trend indicates a consistent approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Williams'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.
Hearing with Judge Williams? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh Hearing Office serves a broad population across North Carolina, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a team of 6 judges, the office maintains an active docket and adheres to national SSA procedural standards. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Raleigh 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 you cannot choose your judge. At the Raleigh Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 40% to 69%. This variance highlights why your specific evidence and medical documentation are the most important factors in your case. You can find more information on the Raleigh Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.