Approval rates
Katherine D. Wisz holds a 55% lifetime approval rate, which sits within the 27% to 74% range seen across the Raleigh bench. In the most recent reporting period, her 64% approval rate compares to the office-wide 61% rate. These figures are based on 3,418 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 Wisz'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 record for Katherine D. Wisz shows an evolution since 2016. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2020, the trend has shifted upward, reaching 64% in the most recent reporting period. This recent performance reflects an increase compared to earlier years on the bench. The latest data suggests a period of stability in decision-making patterns, with the current rate exceeding the broader office average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wisz'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 Raleigh hearing office
The Raleigh hearing office serves you throughout North Carolina. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges on record, with a latest-period office-wide approval rate of 61%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on 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 SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 17 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates among these peers vary significantly, ranging from 27% to 74% over their respective careers.
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
Katherine D. Wisz has a 55% lifetime approval rate. Across the Raleigh office, lifetime approval rates for the 17 judges on record range from 27% to 74%. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these local patterns.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. After a period of lower approval rates between 2018 and 2020, her approval rate has risen, reaching 64% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the current evidentiary standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you organize your medical records for the hearing.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and present your case effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Katherine D. Wisz has a 55% lifetime approval rate, every case is decided on its own merits and evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim.