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Study of Asylum Decisions by Immigration Judges (1995-99)
Statistical Breakdown of Asylum Decisions by Immigration Judges (1995-99)

Requests For Asylum:
Grants and Denials by Immigration Judges

On October 17, 2000, the San Jose Mercury News published a statistical analysis of the decisions of each Immigration Judge in the U.S. comparing their grant rates on requests for asylum. Using the Freedom of Information Act, they obtained a 1,134-page printout of a table from the Justice Department. DMR Associates of Springfield, Virginia analyzed the data.

Enclosed is the ranking sheet developed by DMR Associates. The score is based on the differences between judges' percentage of cases granted for each country they considered, and the median percentage of cases granted by all judges for each of those countries. After the differences were calculated, they were split into positive and negative quintiles, depending on whether they fell above or below the median. If a judge's percentage for a particular country matched the median, he or she was assigned a 0 for that country. Each judge's quintiled rankings for all countries he or she considered were summed to derive individual scores.

Judge Lisa Dornell of Baltimore, Maryland who granted slightly more than 50% of the 817 Requests for Asylum which she decided was ranked by the newspaper as the "Most Lenient Judge" in the U.S. with a score of 97. On the other side of the spectrum is Judge William A Cassidy of Atlanta, rated the "Strictest Judge" in the U.S. with only 66 granted asylum cases out of the 3722 he considered. He was given a score of -63.

(As a former INS Trial Attorney, I caution readers against taking these "scores" too literally. First, the newspaper needs to explain why those judges who have never granted a Request for Asylum are not ranked among the strictest judges. Second, it is important to remember that the scores are based solely upon Requests for Asylum. Immigration Judges rule upon various applications for relief including suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, waivers, voluntary departure, and contested deportation/removal cases. I have received favorable results from a number of judges listed on the "Ten Strictest Judges" list including a suspension of deportation case in which I appeared before Judge Cassidy in Atlanta. I did not find Judge Cassidy to be more "strict" than his fellow judges in other parts of the country.)

Judge City Score Ranking Cases Granted Cases Decided
Bryant, John Milo Arlington -6 139 284 1033
Churchill, Joan V. Arlington -28 200 200 1413
Grant, Christopher M. Arlington 17 58 116 419
Iskra, Wayne Arlington 0 104 274 1376
Nejelski, Paul A. Arlington 46 21 245 686
Cassidy, William A. Atlanta -63 224 66 3722
Rast, G. Mackenzie Atlanta -46 219 29 1351
Barrett, Bruce M. Baltimore 17 58 297 1148
Dornell, Lisa Baltimore 97 1 418 817
Gossart, John F. Jr. Baltimore 31 37 300 1146
Greene, William P. Jr Baltimore 71 5 274 692
Dierkes, Joseph Bloomington -11 157 86 321
D'Ambrosio, Billino W Boston -25 192 24 388
Joyce, William Boston 10 72 35 148
Klein, Eliza C. Boston 44 22 122 474
Ragno, Thomas M. Boston -36 213 8 254
Shapiro, Leonard I. Boston 40 26 185 802
Sheppard, Patricia Boston 38 27 90 507
McHugh, R. Kevin Bradenton -14 170 18 172
Montante, Philip J. J Buffalo -7 145 54 422
Rocco, Michaelangelo Buffalo -1 114 20 90
Brahos, O. John Chicago -2 123 103 423
Cuevas, Carlos Chicago 70 6 218 511
Fujimoto, James R. Chicago 25 44 170 598
Petrone, Anthony D. J Chicago -9 150 51 310
Smith, Renetta Chicago 59 10 185 430
Vinikoor, Robert D. Chicago -16 172 107 505
Zerbe, Craig M. Chicago 48 15 210 573
Copeland, Cary H. Dallas 58 11 404 1138
Hughes, Edwin R. Dallas 62 8 283 874
Rogers, D. Anthony Dallas 0 104 13 129
Cordova, David J. Denver 26 42 106 349
Vandello, James P. Denver -12 161 128 608
Hacker, Elizabeth A. Detroit -9 150 125 578
Newberry, Robert D. Detroit -6 139 36 161
Walsh, John F. Detroit -17 175 81 379
Burkholder, Gary D. El Paso -12 161 3 60
Smith, Penny M. El Paso -9 150 3 39
Zuniga, Bertha A. El Paso 41 24 57 120
Cabrera, Esmeralda Elizabeth 0 104 111 519
Tadal, Mirlande Elizabeth -25 192 126 752
Keenan, Sean H. Eloy -8 148 0 14
Knuck, Richard H. Eloy 4 90 14 97
Levinsky, Mitchell A. Fishkill -5 136 4 37
Freerks, Lamonte S. Florence 14 64 26 142
Jefferies, Scott M. Florence 4 90 16 113
DeFillo, Irma Lopez Guaynabo 3 95 28 130
Achtsam, Howard E. Harlingen 11 69 38 163
Ayala, David Harlingen 41 24 87 315
Burkhart, Margaret Harlingen 32 31 59 100
Carte, John D. Hartford -19 180 11 165
Marple, Harriet B. Hartford 13 66 17 57
Dias, Dayna Honolulu 3 95 25 142
Brown, Robert Houston 32 31 83 538
Rankin, Clarease Houston 5 87 83 755
Suarez, Michael K. Houston -6 139 23 354
Vail, Joseph Houston 60 9 196 721
Yarbrough, Susan Houston -11 157 1 41
Zimmer, William K. Houston -6 139 38 515
Benton, Jimmie Lee Huntsville -12 161 69 928
Bennett, Michael H. Imperial 4 90 42 234
James, Dennis R. Imperial -4 132 4 88
O'Leary, Thomas Michae Imperial -22 188 4 134
Staton, Jack W. Imperial 1 100 15 129
Weil, Jack H. Imperial -13 168 3 127
Nickerson, William J. Lancaster 4 90 7 9
Van Winkle, Howard Lancaster -3 127 1 65
Mullins, Ronald L. Las Vegas -17 175 1 416
Weiss, Irene Las Vegas 52 13 164 800
Bank, Ira Los Angeles -34 210 11 1185
Bronzina, Isabel B. Los Angeles -18 177 22 1599
Burman, Lawrence O. Los Angeles 20 53 70 701
Daniel, Roy J. Los Angeles -47 220 21 1333
Del Bene, Charles A. Los Angeles -19 180 17 435
Dunkel-Bradley, Doroth Los Angeles 2 97 57 964
Einhorn, Bruce J. Los Angeles -7 145 219 2460
Fong, Thomas Los Angeles -39 215 45 1888
Gembacz, Gilbert T. Los Angeles -14 170 98 1468
Gordon, Nathan W. Los Angeles 0 104 159 2725
Hrycenko, Ingrid K. Los Angeles -26 194 129 2663
Ipema, Henry P. Los Angeles -19 180 82 2623
Latimore, Jan D. Los Angeles -22 188 120 2754
Law, Philip S. Los Angeles -13 168 18 1196
Malloy, Rosalind K. Los Angeles -20 185 8 309
Martin, William J. Los Angeles -34 210 56 1758
Mills, Miriam K. Los Angeles -27 195 4 1363
Munoz, Lorraine J. Los Angeles 12 67 72 1169
Ohata, Ronald N. Los Angeles -27 195 33 2083
Reichenberg, Margaret Los Angeles -21 186 57 2041
Segal, Jay Los Angeles -32 208 57 2875
Seligman, Darlene R. Los Angeles -27 195 109 2954
Sholomson, Stephen L. Los Angeles 19 55 186 2048
Walton, Richard D. Los Angeles -30 202 128 2935
Tovar, Eleazar Los Fresnos -11 157 50 1065
Pazar, Charles E. Memphis -5 136 88 356
Alexander, Scott G. Miami -5 136 64 438
Bradley, Kevin G. Miami -23 191 43 398
Chapa, Teofilo Miami -18 177 51 784
Coleman, Sandra S. Miami 15 61 57 222
Dowell, J. Daniel Miami 0 104 110 1017
Ford, Rex J. Miami 14 64 127 836
Gastley, Harry L. Miami -27 195 94 1805
Hanson, Mahlon F. Miami -30 202 34 882
Horn, Michael C. Miami -2 123 58 602
King, H. Lloyd Jr. Miami 2 97 49 512
Kleinfeld, Seymour R. Miami 19 55 99 722
Lane, Denise M. Miami 9 76 136 730
Mander, Stephen E. Miami 10 72 99 666
McCormack, Nancy R. Miami 0 104 176 969
Miranda, Pedro A. Miami 15 61 119 766
Moreno, Roberto Miami 8 78 63 466
Randall, Anthony J. Miami 25 44 126 609
Sanders, Charles J. Miami -7 145 87 860
Sandron, Ira Miami -1 114 55 493
Sims, Deitrich H. Miami -22 188 11 322
Slavin, Denise N. Miami 42 23 192 867
Solow, Bruce W. Miami -1 114 75 760
Sonom, Ronald G. Miami -4 132 70 672
Sukkar, Elisa M. Miami 23 49 141 633
Torreh-Bayouth, Lilli Miami 25 44 153 808
Villageliu, Gustavo D. Miami 1 100 3 9
Williams, Keith C. Miami -28 200 64 1075
Foster, Neale Miami-Krome -4 132 20 118
Hurewitz, Kenneth S. Miami-Krome 1 100 17 123
Zlatow, Jeffrey New Orleans 26 42 65 380
Abrams, Steven R. New York -- Varick St. 19 55 99 226
Page, Alan L. New York -- Varick St. 2 97 33 189
Vomacka, Alan A. New York -- Varick St. -27 195 27 259
Adrian, Matthew T. New York City 32 31 199 588
Bain, Terry A. New York City 90 2 612 1161
Bukszpan, Joanna M. New York City -19 180 135 872
Burr, Sarah M. New York City 6 84 380 1891
Chase, Jeffrey S. New York City -6 139 235 1693
Chew, George T. New York City 32 31 450 1370
Dean, Larry R. New York City -10 154 23 149
DeFonzo, Paul New York City 10 72 148 522
Elstein, Annette S. New York City 1 100 330 1212
Ferris, Noel Anne New York City -44 217 135 1488
Ghartey, Victoria New York City 73 4 460 1210
Hladylowycz, Roxanne New York City -31 205 45 377
Holmes-Simmons, There New York City -12 161 43 159
Hom, Sandy New York City -31 205 199 1500
Honeyman, Charles M. New York City -19 180 250 1450
Jankun, William F. New York City -53 223 18 1511
Kandler, Edward R. New York City -6 139 49 162
Laforest, Brigitte New York City 7 82 202 496
Lamb, Elizabeth A. New York City 30 38 457 1373
McManus, Margaret New York City 68 7 703 1729
Morace, Philip L. New York City 32 31 487 1895
Nelson, Barbara A. New York City -8 148 146 1331
Opaciuch, Adam New York City 0 104 81 276
Rohan, Patricia A. New York City -16 172 612 2149
Schoppert, Douglas B. New York City 48 15 329 777
Sichel, Helen New York City -2 123 125 589
Speer, John K. New York City -31 205 105 1001
Videla, Gabriel C. New York City -38 214 158 2038
Weisel, Robert D. New York City -21 186 393 1762
Dogin, Henry S. Newark -33 209 242 1742
Garcy, Annie S. Newark -16 172 143 892
Kim, Nicole Newark -45 218 72 904
Meisner, Daniel A. Newark -52 222 80 927
Pugliese, Eugene Newark -51 221 78 1108
Riefkohl, Alberto J. Newark 15 61 179 941
Strasser, William Newark 48 15 118 425
Duck, John A. Jr. Oakdale -18 177 1 75
Wiegand, Charles A. 3 Oakdale -12 161 2 47
Dufresne, Jill H. OCIJ 23 49 66 185
O'Leary, Brian M. OCIJ 5 87 7 9
Owens, Robert P. OCIJ 0 104 0 8
Padgett, Gail OCIJ -3 127 0 12
Williams, Phillip T. OCIJ 11 69 102 678
Ortiz-Segura, Rafael Orlando 9 76 189 535
Crosland, David W. Otay Mesa 0 104 4 54
DePaolo, Zsa Zsa Otay Mesa -1 114 0 20
DeBernardis, Craig Philadelphia 25 44 293 948
Ferlise, Donald V. Philadelphia -39 215 74 715
Grussendorf, Paul Philadelphia 55 12 177 337
LeVay, Dean A. Phoenix -10 154 4 171
Richardson, John W. Phoenix 8 78 40 391
Livingston, Donn L. Queens Wackenhut -12 161 290 639
Brodsky, Richard F. San Antonio 11 69 16 101
Castro, Susan E. San Antonio 5 87 46 183
McPhaul, Glenn P. San Antonio 4 90 26 145
Atenaide, Anthony San Diego -12 161 68 729
Bagley, Kenneth A. San Diego -11 157 32 324
Barrett, Robert J. San Diego -1 114 43 254
Bartolomei, Rico J. San Diego 24 48 101 499
Boone, Gaylyn N. San Diego -3 127 4 82
Fernandez, Ignacio P. San Diego -2 123 68 331
Ragusa, Joseph M. San Diego -9 150 4 53
Williams, John C. San Diego -1 114 40 326
Coupe, Dennis F. San Francisco -1 114 32 294
DiCostanzo, Lawrence San Francisco 34 30 208 845
Gonzalez, Alberto E. San Francisco 37 29 223 733
Hayward, Miriam San Francisco 23 49 80 247
Hornbach, Bernard J. San Francisco 51 14 154 457
Keener, Dana Marks San Francisco 48 15 190 629
King, Carol A. San Francisco 38 27 200 586
Phan-Quang, Tue San Francisco 29 39 183 785
Phillips, Beverley M. San Francisco 47 19 331 1222
Ramirez, Laura L. San Francisco 28 41 114 297
Schooley Yam, Mimi San Francisco 17 58 74 403
Simpson, Brian H. San Francisco -30 202 32 772
Stockton, Bette Kane San Francisco 8 78 162 1225
Teeter, Marilyn J. San Francisco 7 82 32 245
Webber, Polly A. San Francisco 32 31 131 772
Yamaguchi, Michael J. San Francisco 6 84 34 115
Peters, Rose San Pedro -1 114 68 303
Sitgraves, D.D. San Pedro 8 78 122 229
Ho, Anna Seattle -10 154 84 491
Josephson, Kenneth Seattle 12 67 115 655
Warren, Kendall Seattle -35 212 27 579
Zastrow, John T. Tucson 22 52 29 84
Miller, Joe D. Ulster -3 127 19 74
Durling, Walter A. York 29 39 70 155
Van Wyke, William York 75 3 256 542
Brauwerman, Suzan C.   -4 132 25 192
Cohen, Howard I.   -3 127 0 7
King, Metcalfe C.   20 53 41 214
Lauer, Charles A.   -1 114 0 24
Leadbetter, Philip P.   47 19 100 170
Prud'homme, M. Edwin   10 72 29 106
Simonet, Jose S.   6 84 7 21