Approval rates
The approval rate for Roy E. LaRoche Jr. is based on 3,116 lifetime decisions. When compared to the broader bench at the Oak Park hearing office, where lifetime approval rates range from 36% to 83%, his record sits at the lower end of this spectrum. These figures are derived from official SSA data and reflect historical trends rather than predictions for your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge LaRoche Jr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge LaRoche Jr.'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 rate for Roy E. LaRoche Jr. has varied, moving from 30% in his early record to 40% in 2025. This trend reflects a steady pattern of adjudication over his 3,116 lifetime decisions. While yearly rates have fluctuated, the data shows a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge LaRoche Jr.'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 claimants across Michigan. The office maintains a bench of 20 judges on record. You can visit the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/oak-park-MI Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster and additional office-specific information.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 20 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, with lifetime records ranging from 36% to 83%.
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
Roy E. LaRoche Jr. has a lifetime approval rate of 36% across 3,116 decisions. This places him at the lower end of the Oak Park bench, where lifetime approval rates for the 20 judges on record range from 36% to 83%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively for this specific judge.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over his record starting in 2016. While he began with a 30% approval rate, recent years have seen rates between 39% and 46%. This variation is common in judicial dockets, and an attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Oak Park office. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for this judge's specific bench.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions to ensure your testimony is clear and consistent.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Roy E. LaRoche Jr. has decided 3,116 cases, and his 36% rate is one factor among many. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the judge's historical patterns.