Approval rates
Comparing Lana Johnson's 52% approval rate on record since 2016 against the 45% to 79% range of the Evanston bench provides a view of how this judge aligns with local peers. In the latest reporting period, the 54% approval rate sits 7 points below the office-wide 61% rate and matches the state average of 54%. These figures are based on a volume of 4,103 decisions on record since 2016. 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 Johnson'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 January 2016, the approval rate for Lana Johnson has fluctuated, showing a peak of 60% in 2020 and a low of 42% in 2022. The record includes 4,103 decisions, with the most recent fiscal year showing a 54% approval rate. This latest period reflects a continuation of the pattern observed over the last decade. While yearly rates vary, the overall trend remains consistent with the long-term average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Evanston hearing office
The Evanston hearing office serves you and other claimants across Illinois and the surrounding region. With 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 61%. You can expect a formal administrative process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your outcome. You can see the Evanston Hearing Office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Evanston
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Evanston office, with 6 of them having decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 45% to 79% since 2016. Preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Lana Johnson has an approval rate of 52% on record since 2016. This falls within the 45% to 79% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Evanston. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this judge's bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the 4,103 decisions on record since 2016, ranging from a high of 60% in 2020 to a low of 42% in 2022. The most recent data shows a 54% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will be asked questions about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
The 52% approval rate on record since 2016 is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you build a strong case to present to the judge.
