Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Thrasher's 88% approval rate stands against the NHC Chicago office average of 54% and the national average of 58%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing a clear view of recent activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your hearing.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Thrasher'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 2016, Judge Thrasher has issued 1,445 decisions with an overall approval rate of 63%. The yearly trend shows an upward shift in recent years, moving from a 57% approval rate in 2016 to 87% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. While the rate fluctuated between 54% and 63% during the earlier years of this record, the most recent 12 months reflect a period of higher approval frequency. This pattern highlights how outcomes can evolve over time based on the specific cases heard.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Thrasher'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 is the most recent office on record for Judge Thrasher as of July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. The office recorded a 54% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. You can see the NHC Chicago Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 19 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Chicago, 9 decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These judges show a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 17% to 88% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Thrasher's 88%. No other judge in Illinois is within 5 points, so these come from SSA's Chicago region and other regions.
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months Dawn M. Gruenburg
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months Gabrielle R. Vitellio
- 84% Approval rate, last 12 months Melody Paige
- 83% Approval rate, last 12 months Christopher Ambrose
- 88% Approval rate, last 12 months Joseph Liken
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Thrasher and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Thrasher's 88% approval rate is higher than the 54% average for the NHC Chicago office. Peer judges at this office range from 17% to 88% over the same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has shifted over time. While the rate was 57% in 2016, it has trended upward in recent years, reaching 88% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
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 your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
