Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with approval rates spanning from 36% to 83%. Because cases are assigned randomly, which judge you draw matters as much as the office average. This wide variation means your file must be robust enough to stand on its own merits regardless of the judge's individual philosophy.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronald Herman | 83% | 3,115 | |
| 2 | Jacqueline Y. Hall-Keith | 83% | 2,082 | |
| 3 | Dawn M. Gruenburg | 81% | 4,452 | |
| 4 | Beth J. Contorer | 78% | 3,398 | |
| 5 | Melody Paige | 78% | 4,266 | |
| 6 | Janet L. Alaga-Gadigian | 69% | 3,696 | |
| 7 | Timothy J. Christensen | 69% | 3,487 | |
| 8 | Kari Deming | 67% | 3,045 | |
| 9 | Melvyn B. Kalt | 65% | 251 | |
| 10 | J. William Callahan | 64% | 1,022 | |
| 11 | Alice F. Blackmore | 63% | 945 | |
| 12 | Patrick M. Horan | 63% | 918 | |
| 13 | Gregory Holiday | 62% | 930 | |
| 14 | Jerome B. Blum | 58% | 172 | |
| 15 | Timothy C. Scallen | 52% | 2,543 | |
| 16 | Virginia Herring | 51% | 3,861 | |
| 17 | Trina Mengesha-Brown | 45% | 2,371 | |
| 18 | Patricia S. McKay | 41% | 2,938 | |
| 19 | Roy LaRoche | 40% | 373 | |
| 20 | Roy E. LaRoche Jr. | 36% | 3,116 |
How long you'll wait
At Oak Park, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
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.
Going to your hearing
With a 7-month wait, you have a limited window to ensure your medical file is complete before your hearing date. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, including updated treatment notes and diagnostic reports. You should also prepare a detailed daily-activity log and a list of medication side effects to explain how your symptoms prevent full-time work. The judge will likely rely on a vocational expert to testify about available jobs; you can cross-examine this expert to clarify why your specific limitations preclude those roles. Submit all new evidence well before the hearing, as last-minute additions are restricted. Your hearing will typically last about an hour, and you will receive the final decision by mail.
When a panel's approval rates span 47 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney uses the months leading up to your hearing to pressure-test your medical evidence against the standards of the specific judge assigned to your case.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Oak Park, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.
Frequently asked questions
The average wait for a hearing at this office is 7 months, which is faster than the 8.2-month national average. An attorney can help you use this time to ensure your medical evidence is fully updated.
Cases are assigned randomly to one of the 20 ALJs at this office. Because approval rates vary significantly across the panel, an attorney can help you understand the tendencies of the judge assigned to your file.
You generally cannot choose your judge, as assignments are made by the SSA to ensure impartiality. If you have concerns about a conflict of interest, an attorney can help you address them.
While not required, represented claimants are often more successful. An attorney can help you navigate the wide variation in judge approval rates at this office.