Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframes. While your judge has a 62% approval rate across all decisions on record since 2016, recent performance is measured against the latest reporting period. In the latest period, your judge's 59% approval rate compares to the 43% office rate, 54% state rate, and 58% national rate. These figures provide a baseline for analysis, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific 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
Since May 2016, the approval rate for your judge has shown yearly fluctuations. After an initial 60% rate in 2016, the annual figures have ranged from a low of 58% to a high of 70% in 2023. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 59% approval rate, which is in line with the long-term average. This pattern suggests a stable approach to case 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.
About the Orland Park hearing office
The Orland Park hearing office is the most recent office on record for your judge, with activity documented through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the Illinois region and maintains a bench of 9 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 43%, you should ensure your documentation is thorough. You can see the Orland Park Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orland Park
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 9 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orland Park office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 25% to 69% since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Your judge's 59% approval rate in the latest reporting period is 16 percentage points higher than the 43% average for the Orland Park office. While this indicates a higher rate of favorable decisions compared to the office average, every case is unique. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this judge.
Your judge's approval rate has remained relatively steady since 2016, with an overall rate of 62% across 4,237 decisions. While there was a notable peak of 70% in 2023, the rate has since returned to levels consistent with the long-term average. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical evidence aligns with this judge's history.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building the strongest possible case, which an attorney can help you do.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you prepare for this process and ensure your testimony is clear and consistent with your medical evidence.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While your judge has approved 62% of cases since 2016, your individual outcome depends on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it satisfies SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your evidence and strengthen your case before your hearing date.
