What if you do not like your judge?
In Social Security Disability cases you are randomly assigned an administrative law judge from the regional hearing office. In Central Illinois at least, you are stuck with the judge you are assigned to unless there is some type of conflict. This may be previous contact with the judge in the community such as membership in the same organization or church, if you knew each other.
The only real chance you have to remedy the situation of a judge who is tough or does not get along well with you is to appeal their decision if they rule against you.
I know it is tough to hear this, after waiting years for the hearing. Especially in more rural areas where only a small number of judges are housed in the hearing center.
That is why it is important to use a local attorney who is familiar with the judges and their attitudes and methods of running a hearing.