Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Ronald Herman based on 3,115 decisions on record since 2016. These figures are compared against the range of other judges who have decided cases at the Oak Park office within the same timeframe. The 9 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 40% to 81% on their since-2016 records.
Judge Herman 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 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Herman 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 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
Ronald Herman has issued 3,115 decisions on record since 2016. The approval rate showed fluctuation in the early years of this data window, but it trended upward in recent years. Specifically, the approval rate reached 93% in 2024, which sits above the overall record since 2016.
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.
About the Oak Park hearing office
The Oak Park Hearing Office serves you in Michigan. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with the last recorded decision for Ronald Herman at this location occurring in September 2024. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process at this office.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Approval rates vary across the bench, and the 9 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 40% to 81% on their since-2016 records. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 9 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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's 83% approval rate on record since 2016 is higher than the range of 40% to 81% seen among the 9 judges who decided cases at the Oak Park office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Ronald Herman has trended upward over the years on record. It rose from 78% in 2016 to 93% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your own case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file. You will likely testify about your symptoms and limitations, and the judge may also hear from medical or vocational experts. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case will be decided based on the unique medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your case and prepare accordingly.
