Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Saame, Brian

CHICAGOIllinois

+7.6 pts vs national average

65.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge65.3%

CHICAGO54.8%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

Fully favorable

53.3%

Partially favorable

12.0%

Denials

34.7%

Total dispositions

102

Dismissals

26.5%

Awards

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Fully fav. 53.3%Partially fav. 12.0%Denied 34.7%

Approval rate history

FY2015

56.3%135 dec

FY2016

62.7%233 dec

FY2017

62.0%229 dec

FY2018

47.0%149 dec

FY2019

61.0%118 dec

FY2020

64.8%267 dec

FY2021

50.0%16 dec

FY2022

78.6%28 dec

FY2023

100.0%4 dec

FY2024

75.0%32 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at CHICAGO (9)

Logan, Michael
278 dec68.7%
Suffi, Carla
313 dec64.2%
Skidmore, David
267 dec61.0%
Poulose, Mary Ann
216 dec58.8%
Laskaris, Bill
319 dec52.4%
Bridges, Kathryn
234 dec50.4%
Carey, Margaret A
299 dec48.2%
Garelick, Jordan
284 dec39.4%
Mellman, Nathan
280 dec39.3%

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.