Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Herman currently maintains an approval rate that is 16 points higher than the Oak Park office average and 25 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a substantial docket of 20,166 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of past judicial activity. 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 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
Over nine years on the bench, Judge Herman has shown a consistent trend in approval patterns. Recent data shows a steady upward trajectory, with approval rates reaching 95% in 2024. This trend suggests a high level of consistency in how evidence is weighed in recent periods. The latest data reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, which is vital for understanding how your case may be evaluated.
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.
Hearing with Judge Herman? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Oak Park hearing office
The Oak Park Hearing Office serves a significant volume of claimants across Illinois. With a bench of 6 judges, this office manages a high caseload that requires efficient processing of disability claims. The office-wide latest approval rate currently stands at 67%, which serves as a local benchmark for your hearing. You can see the Oak Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Oak Park office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 50% to 83%. Because each judge operates with different preferences, the specific judge you draw matters for your case strategy. You can find more information on the office's overall bench on the hearing office page.
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.