Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of an ALJ, it is helpful to compare their lifetime record against current office and national benchmarks. Judge Bruce maintains a lifetime approval rate of 54% based on 26,035 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his 59% approval rate stands 8 percentage points above the Orland Park office average of 46%. 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 Bruce'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
Over a 10-year tenure, your judge's approval rates have fluctuated. After reaching a peak of 61% in 2018 and 2019, the rate experienced a decline before showing a recent recovery to 58% in 2025. This pattern suggests that while the judge's approach remains consistent, your outcome is sensitive to the specific evidence and case mix presented. The recent uptick indicates a return to higher approval levels compared to the 2021-2024 period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bruce'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 Bruce? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park Hearing Office serves a significant population in Illinois, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office processes cases with a focus on administrative efficiency and adherence to federal guidelines. You can expect a formal environment where thorough documentation is essential for a favorable outcome. You can see the Orland Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Orland Park office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 33% to 63%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is more important than the specific judge assigned to your hearing. You can view the Orland Park Hearing Office page for a full overview of the local bench.
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.