Judges whose most recent office on record is this one
Outcomes at this office swing significantly across the panel, with approval rates for judges with at least 30 decisions on record since 2016 ranging from 36% to 83%. Because cases are assigned randomly, which judge you draw matters, and each weighs evidence differently. This wide variation means your file must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of the specific judge assigned to your case.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Y. Hall-Keith | 83% | 2,082 | |
| 2 | Ronald Herman | 83% | 3,115 | |
| 3 | Dawn M. Gruenburg | 81% | 4,452 | |
| 4 | Melody Paige | 78% | 4,266 | |
| 5 | Beth J. Contorer | 78% | 3,398 | |
| 6 | Timothy J. Christensen | 69% | 3,487 | |
| 7 | Janet L. Alaga-Gadigian | 69% | 3,696 | |
| 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 | Patricia S. McKay | 41% | 2,938 | |
| 18 | Roy LaRoche | 40% | 373 | |
| 19 | 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 8.2 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 clear window to organize the medical evidence that will define your hearing. Focus on updating your records with any new clinical findings or treatment notes since your initial denial, as these are the documents an ALJ will prioritize. Your hearing will typically last 45 to 60 minutes, during which you may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. A vocational expert often testifies to identify jobs that fit your functional capacity, and you or your representative can question them on those conclusions. Ensure your medication list and a log of your daily activities are current, as these provide the concrete context judges need. A final decision usually arrives by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's approval rates span nearly 50 points, your file has to be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Even at an office like Oak Park where the 66% approval rate is high, the cases that fail often do so because they didn't anticipate the vocational expert's testimony or failed to bridge gaps in the medical record. Preparing your file thoroughly before you walk in is the best way to manage the uncertainty of the assignment process.
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. SSA's published service areas route these offices' appeals here. 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 currently faster than the 8.2-month national average. An attorney can help you understand how to use this time to strengthen your claim.
Cases are assigned randomly to judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Park. Because outcomes vary across the panel, your preparation should focus on building a robust, evidence-backed file. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of the judges on this panel.
You generally cannot choose your judge, as assignments are made randomly to ensure impartiality. An attorney can help you evaluate your file to ensure it is prepared for any judge on the panel.
While not required, having an attorney is a significant advantage. Represented claimants are statistically more likely to be approved, as attorneys help organize evidence and prepare you for the vocational expert's testimony. An attorney can help you navigate the hearing process.
