https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1412741/download
NOTICE
U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Office of Policy
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Contact: Communications and Legislative Affairs Division
Phone: 703-305-0289 Fax: 703-605-0365
PAO.EOIR@usdoj.gov @DOJ_EOIR www.justice.gov/eoir
July 16, 2021
EOIR Announces 10 New Immigration Judges
FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced 10 new Immigration Judges (IJs), including one Assistant Chief Immigration Judge (ACIJ). ACIJs are responsible for overseeing the operations of their assigned immigration courts. In addition to their management responsibilities, they will hear cases. IJs preside in formal judicial hearings and make decisions that are final, unless formally appealed.
After a thorough application process, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland appointed Megan R. Jackler, Justin S. Dinsdale, Alexander H. Lee, Loi L. McCleskey, Edwin E. Pieters, Artie R. Pobjecky, Jodie A. Schwab, Kenneth S. Sogabe, Lydia G. Tamez, and Romaine L. White to their new positions.
Biographical information follows:
Megan R. Jackler, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, New Orleans Immigration Court
Megan R. Jackler was appointed as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge to begin supervisory immigration court duties and hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Jackler earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from Barnard College and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the American University Washington College of Law. From 2009 to 2021, she served as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate, in the following locations: Norfolk, Virginia; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Gulfport, Mississippi; Mazar- e-Sharif, Afghanistan; and Yokosuka, Japan. From 2003 to 2005, she was a Litigation Paralegal with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, in New York. Judge Jackler is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, New Jersey State Bar, New York State Bar, and Virginia State Bar.
Justin S. Dinsdale, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Justin S. Dinsdale was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Dinsdale earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 from Texas Christian University and a Juris Doctorate in 2004 from South Texas College of Law Houston. From 2015 to 2021, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, in Brownsville. From 2011 to 2015, he was in private practice with the Law Office of Justin S. Dinsdale, in Brownsville. From 2008 to 2010, he was an Associate Attorney with Rodriguez, Colvin, Chaney & Saenz LLP, in Brownsville. From 2004 to 2008, he served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, in Brownsville. Judge Dinsdale is a member of the Idaho State Bar and the State Bar of Texas.
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Alexander H. Lee, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Alexander H. Lee was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from Kenyon College and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from Chicago-Kent College of Law. From 2017 to 2021, he served as an Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Pearsall and San Antonio, Texas. From 2011 to 2017, he served as a Staff Attorney for the Washington State Department of Health, in Tumwater, Washington. From 2005 to 2011, he was in private practice in Olympia, Washington. Judge Lee is a member of the Washington State Bar.
Loi L. McCleskey, Immigration Judge, San Francisco Immigration Court
Loi L. McCleskey was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge McCleskey earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1996 from Capital University and a Juris Doctor in 1999 from Capital University Law School. From 2013 to 2021, she served as an Administrative Hearing Officer Supervisor; from 2011 to 2013, Senior Administrative Hearing Officer; and from 2003 to 2011, Administrative Hearing Officer for the State of Ohio in Columbus. From 2000 to 2003, she was in private practice in Columbus. Judge McCleskey is a member of the Ohio State Bar.
Edwin E. Pieters, Immigration Judge, New York – Federal Plaza Immigration Court
Edwin E. Pieters was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Pieters earned a Bachelor of Science in 1987 from State University of New York at New Paltz; a Master of Political Science/Governmental Law in 1992 from City University of New York at Brooklyn College; a Master of Public Administration in 2000 from City University of New York at Baruch College; a Juris Doctorate in 2002 from the City University of New York Law School at Queens College; and a Master of Law in 2005 from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. From 2018 to 2021, he served as a Hearing Officer for the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. From 2006 to 2017, he served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, in Brooklyn. Judge Pieters is a member of the New York State Bar.
Artie R. Pobjecky, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Artie R. Pobjecky was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Pobjecky earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor in 2001 from Baylor University School of Law. From 2007 to 2021, she was a Partner with Pobjecky & Pobjecky LLP, in Winter Haven, Florida. From 2015 to 2017, she served as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter. From 2002 to 2007, she was an Associate Attorney with J. David Pobjecky PA, in Winter Haven. Judge Pobjecky is a member of the Florida Bar, Pennsylvania Bar, and the State Bar of Texas.
Jodie A. Schwab, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Jodie A. Schwab was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Schwab earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1990 from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Juris Doctor in 1993 from St. Mary’s University School of Law. From 2018 to 2021, she served as an Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Houston. From 2017 to 2018, she was Senior Counsel with Greer, Herz & Adams LLP, in League City, Texas. From 2006 to 2017,
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she served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Magistrate Judge John Froeschner, with the U.S. District Courts, Southern District of Texas. From 2005 to 2006, she served as a Deputy Attorney General, California Office of the Attorney General, in Sacramento, California. From 2004 to 2005, she was a Litigation Attorney for a Staff Counsel Office with Farmers Insurance Exchange, in Stockton, California. From 1994 to 2003, she was Counsel at United Services Automobile Association, in San Antonio. Judge Schwab is a member of the State Bar of California and State Bar of Texas.
Kenneth S. Sogabe, Immigration Judge, Seattle Immigration Court
Kenneth S. Sogabe was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Sogabe earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 and a Master of Arts in 1996, both from San Francisco State University, and a Juris Doctor in 2001 from Golden Gate University School of Law. From 2018 to 2021, he served as Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Department of Defense Education Activity, in Okinawa, Japan. From 2014 to 2018, he served as an Attorney Advisor, Office of Chief Counsel, Customs and Border Protection, DHS, in San Francisco. From 2007 to 2014, he served as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco. From 2001 to 2006, he served as an Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in San Francisco. Judge Sogabe is a member of the State Bar of California.
Lydia G. Tamez, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Lydia G. Tamez was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge Tamez earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1981 from Yale University and a Juris Doctor in 1985 from Yale Law School. From 2019 to 2021, she served as an Associate Judge for the City of Houston Municipal Courts. From 2016 to 2021, she was in private practice in Houston. From 2015 to 2016, she was a Counselor at Law with Graves and Graves LLP, in Houston. From 2012 to 2015, she was a Partner with Foster LLP, in Houston. From 2003 to 2011, she was an Associate General Counsel; from 1999 to 2003, a Senior Attorney; and from 1995 to 1999, an Attorney for Legal and Corporate Affairs, with Microsoft Corporation, in Redmond, Washington. From 1986 to 1995, she was an Attorney for Tindall and Foster PC, in Houston. Judge Tamez is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Washington State Bar.
Romaine L. White, Immigration Judge, Houston – Greenspoint Park Immigration Court
Romaine L. White was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in July 2021. Judge White earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1983 from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor in 1986 from the University of Georgia School of Law. From 2012 to 2021, she served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Louisiana Division of Administrative Law, in New Orleans. From 2004 to 2021, and previously from 1999 to 2001, she was a sole practitioner with the Law Office of Romaine L. White LLC, in Houma, Louisiana. From 2001 to 2006, she served as an Assistant Parish Attorney for the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, in Houma. From 2001 to 2004, she was an Associate Attorney with McNabb and Associates, in Houma. From 1997 to 1998, she served as Deputy General Counsel for the State Bar of Georgia, in Atlanta. From 1991 to 1997, she served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlanta. From 1986 to 1991, she was an Associate Attorney with Griffin, Cochrane, & Marshall, in Atlanta. Judge White is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Louisiana State Bar. Communications and Legislative Affairs Division
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The three appointments from private practice include Judge Linda G. Tamez of Houston who appears to have served as a Municipal Judge in Houston while in private practice from 2019-21. Similarly, Judge Romaine L. White of Houston Greenspoint appears to have maintained a private practice while serving as a Louisiana State ALJ from 2012-21.
The sole new IJ to list AILA experience is Judge Artie J. Pobjecky of the Houston Greenspoint Immigration Court, who served as Chair of the AILA, Central Florida Chapter, from 2015-2017. She is also the only new appointee who appears to have been working primarily in the private practice of immigration law at the time of her appointment.
Several other appointees did have some type of private sector experiences, although they were serving in various government positions at the time of appointment. None, however, stood out as having much, if any, experience representing individuals in Immigration Court in this broken and dysfunctional system.
It’s super critical for NDPA members to 1) keep applying en masse for these jobs, and 2) let your extreme dis-satisfaction with Garland’s tone-deaf, one sided appointments to the Immigration Courts be known to the Biden Administration.
We need to keep attacking until the walls of anti-expert, anti-advocate, anti-private-sector, anti-diversity bias that has been “baked into” the DOJ IJ and BIA selection process for the better part of several decades is finally broken and excellence and practical scholarship in immigration, human rights, and due process finally break through and prevail. Also, continuing to pummel the Garland EOIR’s substandard work product in the Article IIIs will keep illustrating the point that something has got to change here!
In the meantime, keep pushing Congress for an independent Immigration Court that will be free of the DOJ bureaucracy and will require a merit-based selection system with input from “outside experts!”
🇺🇸Due Process Forever! Status quo, never!
PWS
07-19-21