Who the New Judges Are
The 11 permanent judges largely hail from the federal government, with experience spanning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and the EOIR itself. Many also bring experience as former assistant U.S. attorneys or prior federal judges, signaling a preference for courtroom-tested legal minds familiar with administrative law.
Meanwhile, the 25 temporary judges come predominantly from the military justice system, having served as judge advocates in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy.
New Rule Broadens Eligibility for Temporary Judges
A regulatory change implemented in August played a crucial role in expanding the candidate pool. The amendment broadened the qualifications for temporary immigration judgeships to include military and veterans’ appeal judges, private attorneys, and government lawyers, and notably waived the prior requirement for experience in immigration law.
The new rule has been both praised for its inclusivity and criticized by immigration advocates who argue it could lead to inconsistent rulings from judges with limited exposure to the complexities of immigration law.
