Approval rates
Judge O'Brien maintains an approval rate that consistently exceeds regional and national benchmarks. In the latest reporting period, this judge approved cases at a rate 4 points higher than the Rochester office average and 20 points above the national average. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 13,540 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical foundation. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not 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 O'Brien'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 a 9-year tenure, your judge's approval rate has remained steady. The data shows a consistent trend, with recent years hovering near the lifetime average of 78%. While there was a peak in 2019, the subsequent years have returned to a stable baseline. This pattern suggests a predictable approach to evidence evaluation, where the latest period reflects a continuation of this long-term consistency.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge O'Brien'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 O'Brien? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Rochester hearing office
The Rochester Hearing Office serves a broad population across New York, managing a high volume of SSDI and SSI claims. With a bench of 4 judges, the office maintains an active caseload that reflects the regional demand for disability benefits. You can expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical documentation provided in your files. You can visit the Rochester Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Rochester Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 66% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence. Guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.