MacDonald, James E
Evanston, IL · Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Hearing Approval Rate
58.7%
Above the national average of 48.6%
Disability judges hear appeals after an initial claim is denied. Judge MacDonald approves 58.7% of cases — knowing your judge’s track record helps you and your representative prepare. How to prepare for your hearing →
How Judge MacDonald Decides Cases
Nat'l avg: 48.6%
Nat'l avg: 35.0%
Nat'l avg: 16.3%
Know Your Numbers
Judge MacDonald approved 58.7% of dispositions. That’s 10.1 percentage points above the national average of 48.6%. MacDonald decided 270 cases out of 327 total dispositions. Under SSA’s methodology (excluding dismissals), the approval rate is 71.1%. Knowing your judge’s track record can help you prepare for your hearing.
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Get Your Free GuideDetailed Case Counts— Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
Total Cases
327
Approved
192
Denied
78
Hearing Office
Evanston (IL)
8.0 months wait · 2,214 pending
Whether your judge's approval rate is high or low, the strongest factor in your outcome is the quality of your medical evidence and whether you have representation. How judge approval rates vary nationally →
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Appearing before Judge MacDonald?
Claimants with representation are approved at nearly 3× the rate. A free case evaluation takes less than two minutes — and it could change the outcome of your claim.
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