Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Janice M. Bruning compared to the broader bench at the Oak Brook Hearing Office. The data reflects the 4,605 decisions on record since 2016. The 2 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 35% to 77% on their since-2016 records.
Judge Bruning is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Bruning isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bruning'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
Janice M. Bruning's approval rate has fluctuated across the 4,605 decisions recorded since 2016. Approval rates reached a high of 66% in 2023 and a low of 43% in 2019. The most recent full year of data from 2025 shows an approval rate of 57%.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bruning'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 Oak Brook hearing office
The Oak Brook Hearing Office is the most recent office on record for 10 judges as of September 2025. You can find the full roster of judges who have decided cases at this location on the Oak Brook Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook, 2 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 2 judges range from 35% to 77% 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
Janice M. Bruning has an approval rate of 55% across 4,605 decisions since 2016. This sits within the range of the 2 judges currently active in the latest SSA file, who vary between 35% and 77%. An attorney can help you understand how these local trends might relate to your specific case.
The approval rate for Janice M. Bruning has shifted over time, moving from 57% in 2016 to 57% in 2025. The data shows yearly fluctuations, such as a peak of 66% in 2023. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence meets the requirements of your claim.
