Who decides cases at this office
The 14 ALJs at this office show a moderate spread in their decision-making, with individual approval rates ranging from 29% to 61%. Because the panel median sits at 52%, your outcome is influenced by the specific judge assigned to your case. Since assignments are random, your file must be prepared to meet the standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly S. Parkhurst | 61% | 1,349 | |
| 2 | Joseph P. Donovan Sr. | 56% | 281 | |
| 3 | William J. King Jr. | 56% | 1,009 | |
| 4 | Denise M. Martin | 53% | 2,792 | |
| 5 | Jennifer Smiley | 53% | 2,565 | |
| 6 | Helen Valkavich | 52% | 2,595 | |
| 7 | Brian Lucas | 52% | 3,265 | |
| 8 | Roxanne Fuller | 51% | 3,539 | |
| 9 | Deanna L. Sokolski | 51% | 2,508 | |
| 10 | Mary F. Withum | 43% | 422 | |
| 11 | John Pope | 40% | 459 | |
| 12 | Theodore W. Grippo | 39% | 1,845 | |
| 13 | Paul R. Armstrong | 30% | 2,869 | |
| 14 | Henry Kramzyk | 29% | 3,072 |
Denied before you got here? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
How long you'll wait
At Chicago, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 11 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
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.
Going to your hearing
With an 11-month wait, you have a significant runway to strengthen your file before your hearing. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, as these are the most critical pieces of evidence for an ALJ. You should also maintain a daily log of your symptoms and limitations to provide a concrete picture of your life. During your hearing, a vocational expert will likely testify about your ability to perform specific jobs. You can question this expert to clarify how your limitations prevent you from working. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. A decision will arrive by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
With a wait time that has climbed to 11 months, the period between your appeal and your hearing is a critical window for evidence development. Cases that succeed at this office often do so because you used that time to bridge gaps in your medical history that the state DDS missed. This preparation helps you address the specific vocational questions an ALJ will ask.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Chicago, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at this office is currently 11 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.2 months, providing you with more time to ensure your medical evidence is complete. An attorney can help you use this time effectively.
Cases are assigned randomly to one of the 14 ALJs at this office. Because approval rates across the panel vary from 29% to 61%, an attorney can help you understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your case. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your assigned judge.
You generally cannot choose your judge, as assignments are made by the SSA to ensure impartiality. If you have concerns about a specific judge, an attorney can help you discuss the appropriate legal steps.
While not required, having an attorney is highly recommended. Given the 54% approval rate and the variation among judges, an attorney can help you present your evidence in a way that directly addresses the criteria used by the ALJ. An attorney can help you build a stronger case.