Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for John Pope based on his 459 decisions on record since 2016. Because this judge is not in the most recent SSA file, this historical performance offers context for his decision-making patterns. The 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Chicago show a range of 26% to 63% approval on their records since 2016.
Judge Pope 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 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Pope 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 Pope'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
John Pope's approval rate shows a shift across the 459 decisions on record since 2016. The rate was 33% in 2016, 42% in 2017, and 41% in 2018. The limited data for 2019 reflects a partial period. This pattern shows his decision-making frequency across the years he was active at this office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pope'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 NHC Chicago hearing office
The NHC Chicago serves you if you are in Illinois and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. If you appear before judges at this office, you should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the NHC Chicago, there are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. These judges show a wide variance in their approval rates, ranging from 26% to 63% on their records since 2016.
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
John Pope's 40% approval rate falls within the 26% to 63% range observed among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Chicago. An attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows his approval rate was 33% in 2016, 42% in 2017, and 41% in 2018. An attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence aligns with these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to distribute cases among the available judges at the hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
