Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Robert G. O'Blennis based on his total decisions on record since 2016. With 2,063 decisions, this data provides a broad view of his past activity at the Creve Coeur hearing office.
Judge O'Blennis is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2022. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge O'Blennis isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge O'Blennis'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
Robert G. O'Blennis decided 2,063 cases between 2016 and 2022. His approval rate was 41% in 2016, 47% in 2017, 47% in 2018, 46% in 2019, 34% in 2020, 28% in 2021, and 34% in 2022.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge O'Blennis'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.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Creve Coeur
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Creve Coeur hearing office.
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
Robert G. O'Blennis has a 40% approval rate across 2,063 decisions on record since 2016. Because there is no current 12-month comparison for this judge, you should focus on the evidence in your own file. An attorney can help you understand how your specific evidence aligns with local hearing standards.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching 34% in 2022. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses an automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Creve Coeur hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case for any judge you are assigned.
The 40% approval rate for Robert G. O'Blennis reflects his past decisions from 2016 through 2022. It is not a prediction of how he will rule on your specific claim, as every case depends on the unique medical evidence you present. An attorney can help you ensure your file is as strong as possible before your hearing.
