Approval rates
Judge Logan's approval rate is calculated based on 18,185 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, he maintained a 73% approval rate, which is 14 percentage points higher than the Chicago office average and 12 points above the national average. This data reflects a high volume of cases handled over a decade of service. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of 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 Logan'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
Over his 10-year tenure, Judge Logan has shown a steady pattern of approvals. While his yearly approval rates have fluctuated between 60% and 82%, the overall trajectory remains stable and consistently above the local office baseline. The latest reporting period shows a 73% approval rate, suggesting that his approach to evidence and testimony remains aligned with his long-term historical average. This consistency helps provide a clearer picture of what to expect during your hearing process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Logan'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.
Hearing with Judge Logan? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Chicago hearing office
The Chicago Hearing Office serves a large population across Illinois, managing a high volume of SSDI cases with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an average approval rate of 56%, which provides a local benchmark for your claim. You can expect a professional environment focused on the thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can visit the Chicago Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Logan is essentially random. Across the Chicago office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 41% to 70%, highlighting the variance in judicial decision-making. Because every judge evaluates evidence through their own lens, understanding the office-wide environment is useful for your preparation.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.