Approval rates
The approval rate for James A. Horn is based on 66 decisions on record since January 2016. This figure is best understood by comparing it to the broader bench at the Oak Brook hearing office, where since-2016 approval rates for judges range from 35% to 84%. These statistics provide a probability cloud based on past performance rather than a guarantee for your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Horn. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Horn'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
The data for James A. Horn covers 66 decisions on record starting in January 2016 and ending in September 2016. During this period, the approval rate was 64%. Because this record is limited to a single year, it reflects a specific snapshot of activity rather than a long-term trend.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Horn'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 Brook hearing office
James A. Horn's most recent office on record is the Oak Brook hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves the Illinois region and maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Brook hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 84% on their since-2016 records.
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
James A. Horn has an approval rate of 64% based on 66 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 35% to 84% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for James A. Horn was 64% over 66 decisions during the 2016 record window. Because the data is limited to that year, the rate remained steady throughout the period. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these past patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. While James A. Horn approved 64% of cases on record since 2016, your result depends on the specific medical evidence and vocational factors in your file. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
