Approval rates
The 77% approval rate for Connor O'Brien reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 65% to 77% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Rochester. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided at this office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge O'Brien. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2024. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
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
Since January 2016, Connor O'Brien has issued 2,428 decisions. The approval trend shows a steady pattern, starting at 70% in 2016 and reaching 79% in 2024. This consistency suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your disability claim.
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.
About the Rochester hearing office
Connor O'Brien's most recent SSA record (September 2024) is at the Rochester hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Rochester
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is Rochester, with approval rates ranging from 65% to 77% on their since-2016 records.
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
Connor O'Brien has a 77% approval rate on record since 2016, which is at the top of the 65% to 77% range for the 4 judges whose most recent office on record is Rochester. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
The approval rate for Connor O'Brien has held relatively steady, moving from 70% in 2016 to 79% in 2024. While these trends provide context, an attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The 77% approval rate on record since 2016 represents a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony, which an attorney can help you organize.
