Approval rates
Comparing judicial performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Beth J. Contorer has an approval rate of 78% since 2016, her latest-period approval rate of 82% stands 16 points above the 66% average for the Oak Park office. These figures are based on a volume of 3,398 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 Contorer'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
Since 2016, your judge's approval rate has remained steady. Her latest-period approval rate of 82% is higher than her long-term average of 78% across 3,398 decisions. This recent performance reflects a consistent approach to the evidence presented in her courtroom. The latest period, which includes 391 decisions, suggests a continuation of this stable pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Contorer'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 Park hearing office
Beth J. Contorer's most recent office on record is the Oak Park hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves the surrounding Michigan region and maintains a bench of 19 judges. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Park office, and 9 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 36% to 83% on their records since 2016.
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
Beth J. Contorer has an approval rate of 78% on her record since 2016. Among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park, approval rates range from 36% to 83%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Beth J. Contorer has maintained a consistent approval pattern since 2016, with a long-term rate of 78% across 3,398 decisions. Her latest-period approval rate is 82%, which is an increase from her historical average. An attorney can help you understand these trends as you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses before your hearing.
