Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of Judge Michael S. Condon, it is helpful to look at his lifetime approval rate of 44% in the context of broader trends. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate trailed the Grand Rapids office average by 14 percentage points. With over 16,349 lifetime decisions, the data provides a stable view of his historical decision-making. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Condon'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 his 7 years on the bench, Judge Michael S. Condon has seen his approval rates fluctuate. After an initial period of relative stability, the data shows a shift in recent years, with the latest reporting period showing a 33% approval rate. This trend reflects a departure from his earlier career averages. These variations often stem from changes in the complexity of cases or the specific medical evidence presented, rather than a fixed personal policy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Condon'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 Condon? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids Hearing Office serves a large population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the regional caseload. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical documentation and vocational history. You can see the Grand Rapids Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Michael S. Condon is essentially random. Across the Grand Rapids bench, the 6 ALJs range from 43% to 60% in lifetime approval rates. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case is a significant variable in the hearing process. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.