Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent reporting periods. While Kathleen Kadlec has a 25% lifetime approval rate, her most recent period shows a 15% approval rate compared to the 43% office-wide average. These figures are derived from 2,996 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific 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 Kadlec'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, the approval trend for Kathleen Kadlec has shifted. After starting with a 60% approval rate in 2016, the data shows a decline over the following years, stabilizing at lower levels in recent reporting periods. This pattern reflects 2,996 total decisions on record. The recent 15% approval rate in the latest period suggests a continuation of the trend observed since 2022.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kadlec'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 Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park hearing office serves you throughout the Illinois region. With a bench of 9 judges on record, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 43%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit the Orland Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Orland Park hearing office uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment is random. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported data in the latest period. The lifetime approval rates for judges at this office range from 25% to 69%.
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
Kathleen Kadlec has a lifetime approval rate of 25%, which sits at the lower end of the 25% to 69% range observed across the Orland Park bench. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you determine how to best present your medical evidence to meet the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a shift in her approval patterns since 2016. While her early decisions saw higher approval rates, the trend has moved toward a lower percentage in recent years, with a 15% approval rate in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific challenges of a hearing in the current environment.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is properly submitted.