Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your hearing. Judge Smith's lifetime approval rate of 63% stands in contrast to the latest office-wide approval rate of 46% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 23,707 lifetime decisions, offering a stable view of his historical decision-making. 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 Smith'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 years on the bench, Judge Smith has maintained a relatively steady approval pattern. While his annual approval rates have fluctuated between 59% and 70% over the last decade, the data shows a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 58%, which aligns closely with his long-term career average. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evidence evaluation.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Smith'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 Smith? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park Hearing Office serves a significant population across Illinois, managing a high volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 46%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Orland Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Orland Park Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 33% to 63%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful. You can find more information on the Orland Park Hearing Office page.
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.