Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Herring, Virginia

OAK PARKIllinois Trending up

-6.5 pts vs national average

51.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge51.2%

OAK PARK65.7%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

361

Fully favorable

144

39.9%

Partially favorable

11.4%

Denials

176

48.8%

Total dispositions

400

Dismissals

9.8%

Awards

185

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 39.9%Partially fav. 11.4%Denied 48.8%

Approval rate history

FY2016

40.9%320 dec

FY2017

48.1%418 dec

FY2018

51.9%430 dec

FY2019

43.6%504 dec

FY2020

52.3%394 dec

FY2021

50.8%254 dec

FY2022

48.5%239 dec

FY2023

53.2%299 dec

FY2024

62.0%326 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at OAK PARK (9)

Gruenburg, Dawn
397 dec86.4%
Paige, Melody
336 dec86.0%
Contorer, Beth
336 dec82.4%
Alaga-Gadigian, Janet
142 dec80.3%
Blackmore, Alice
167 dec74.9%
Horan, Patrick M.
180 dec66.7%
Mengesha-Brown, Trina
221 dec48.0%
McKay, Patricia S.
282 dec41.5%
LaRoche, Roy
373 dec39.9%

Judges in Illinois with the most decisions

Smith, Gregory
ORLAND PARK429 dec
Studzinski, Edward
OAK BROOK404 dec
Bruce, David R
ORLAND PARK399 dec
Strickler, Nathaniel E
PEORIA373 dec
Luker, Daniel
PEORIA361 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.