Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's record requires looking at the data in context. Ronald Herman's 83% lifetime approval rate is based on 3,115 decisions, providing a clear view of his history at the Oak Park office. This figure sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 36% to 83%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Herman. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Herman'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, Ronald Herman has maintained a high approval rate, with recent years showing a notable upward trend. While the rate was 78% in 2016, it has climbed to 93% in 2024. This pattern reflects a consistent approach to evaluating evidence over the 3,115 decisions on record. The latest period continues this trend, indicating that the judge's decision-making process has remained stable over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Herman'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Oak Park hearing office
The Oak Park hearing office serves you and other claimants across the Michigan region. With 20 judges on record, the office handles a diverse range of disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 66%, which provides a benchmark for the local area. You can see the Oak Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 83% lifetime. You can find more information on the office's overall performance on the hearing office page.
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
Ronald Herman has an 83% lifetime approval rate, which is at the high end of the 36% to 83% range seen among the 20 judges on record at the Oak Park office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this judge.
Yes, Ronald Herman's approval rate has shown a steady upward trend, moving from 78% in 2016 to 93% in 2024. Understanding these trends can be part of a comprehensive case strategy, which an attorney can help you develop.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, which an attorney can help you gather and present.