Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at consistent data periods. While Roy LaRoche maintains a 40% lifetime approval rate, his latest-period approval rate of 40% sits 26 points below the Oak Park office average of 66%. These figures are drawn from 373 lifetime decisions, providing a statistically significant view of his courtroom record. These rates reflect historical trends rather than predictions for 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 LaRoche'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 decision pattern for Roy LaRoche is based on 373 lifetime decisions recorded since 2016. His approval rate has remained steady at 40% during the most recent reporting period. Because SSA case assignment is randomized through a workload-balancing algorithm, understanding this trend helps you and your representative focus on the specific evidentiary requirements of your claim. The latest data reflects a continuation of this established pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge LaRoche'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 throughout the region, operating as a critical hub for Social Security Disability Insurance hearings in Michigan. The office bench consists of 20 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 66%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. See the Oak Park hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Oak Park hearing office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges on record at this office since 2016, 10 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 83% on lifetime records. You can find more information on the office's general operations on the Oak Park hearing office page.
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 LaRoche has a lifetime approval rate of 40% across 373 decisions. This sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 36% to 83% for the 20 judges on record at the Oak Park office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The data shows that Roy LaRoche's approval rate has remained steady at 40% in the most recent reporting period. While past performance is not a guarantee of future outcomes, identifying these trends is a standard part of your case preparation. A qualified attorney can help you tailor your strategy to the specific requirements of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Oak Park office to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence remains the most effective way to prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your case file is complete.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific case. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets the SSA's definition of disability. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.