Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Kathleen Kadlec's 25% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of past performance, while latest-period data allows for a focused comparison against the Orland Park bench. With 2,996 decisions on record, the data offers a look at how this judge has handled cases. These figures reflect past decisions rather than 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 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
The approval rate for Kathleen Kadlec has shifted over the 2,996 decisions on record since 2016. While the approval rate was 60% in 2016, it reached 15% in the latest reporting period. This recent figure is lower than the 25% average observed across the entire data window, suggesting a more rigorous approach to case evaluation in recent years.
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
Kathleen Kadlec's most recent office on record is the Orland Park Hearing Office. This office maintains a bench of 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with an office-wide latest approval rate of 43%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orland Park
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 25% to 69% 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
Kathleen Kadlec's 25% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the lower end of the range for the 9 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, which spans from 25% to 69%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has changed over the 2,996 decisions on record since 2016. While the rate was 60% in 2016, it reached 15% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might influence your hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence to ensure your case is presented clearly.
