Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

MacDonald, James

EVANSTONIllinois Trending up

+14.5 pts vs national average

72.2%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge72.2%

EVANSTON60.0%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

353

Fully favorable

223

63.2%

Partially favorable

9.1%

Denials

27.8%

Total dispositions

424

Dismissals

16.7%

Awards

255

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 63.2%Partially fav. 9.1%Denied 27.8%

Approval rate history

FY2017

65.0%237 dec

FY2018

60.1%479 dec

FY2019

59.8%569 dec

FY2020

63.6%528 dec

FY2021

62.1%398 dec

FY2022

67.5%305 dec

FY2023

68.5%374 dec

FY2024

73.1%435 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at EVANSTON (6)

Martin, John
247 dec63.6%
Pope, Stephen
248 dec63.3%
Bassett, Lovert F.
348 dec62.9%
Vodak, Kevin
330 dec59.7%
Johnson, Lana
329 dec53.8%
Inouye, Jessica
196 dec44.4%

Judges in Illinois with the most decisions

Smith, Gregory
ORLAND PARK429 dec
Studzinski, Edward
OAK BROOK404 dec
Bruce, David R
ORLAND PARK399 dec
Gruenburg, Dawn
OAK PARK397 dec
LaRoche, Roy
OAK PARK373 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.