Immigration Judge Positions

[batman1463]

I interviewed for the November 2015 announcement and was told that the process can take anywhere from 8-14 months. I didn't clarify whether the starting point was the date of the announcement (11/2015) or from the time of first interview going forward. I was also told that second interviews would be conducted based on location(s) of most need. With that in mind it seems that the agency is hiring in the regions where the most need is indicated first, and working on down from there. I was also told that the plans were to hire many more IJs. So, my advice is to keep hope alive.

[3rdxacharm]

wb mentioned the May 6, 2013 list of IJs hired- That was more than three years ago, hardly recent.

[tigger]

Does anyone know whether the interviews scheduled in July are 1st interviews with EOIR or second interviews with AG or both?

[alohastate]

I wish I had known of the IJ job posting when it occurred.  Although I am 99% sure I would never be selected for that type of position, I think the job of being an IJ is one of the best bench positions out there.  

[wacokid]

My references are being contacted, but I have not been contacted for a second interview.

[Deleted]

EOIR news:
Law360, New York (July 6, 2016, 6:24 PM ET) -- Administrative Law Judge Stacy S.
Paddack has departed her post at the Executive Office for Immigration Review
less than two years after her appointment was unveiled, the agency acknowledged
Wednesday.
EOIR representative Kathryn Mattingly confirmed that Judge Paddack “left her
position” at the office and that ALJ Ellen Thomas had retired in April. Both
judges heard cases with the EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing
Officer, which examines fines over I-9 form violations.

When asked if she could give any information on why Judge Paddack vacated her
position, Mattingly said, “We have no further comment.”

Mattingly did note that the EOIR “has accepted the temporary detail of two
ALJs from theFederal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission to serve” the
Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer.

“The two ALJs currently on detail to OCAHO both have demonstrated their
proficiency with administrative law matters through their successful passage of
the ALJ examination and their past work history as ALJs,” the representative
wrote. “The ALJs also received training on OCAHO’s areas of jurisdiction and
case procedures, and are assisted by experienced OCAHO legal and administrative
support staff in their adjudication of OCAHO cases.”

She also pointed out that EOIR has posted a job notice for an ALJ on the U.S.
Office of Personnel Management’s employment site.

During her tenure, Judge Paddack had handled various cases related to I-9 forms.
One decision, however, really caused a stir: She ruled that at least one
attorney for Louisiana Crane Co. LLC committed plagiarism by copying text from a
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage without any attribution.

More recently, Judge Paddack ordered East Coast Foods Inc., which does business
as Roscoe’s House of Chicken 'n Waffles, to pay a penalty of $18,350, after
finding the company failed to prepare or present I-9 forms for certain workers
among other form-related violations.

In a separate case, Judge Paddack ordered fruit and vegetable supplier Cawoods
Produce Inc. to pay a $14,575 civil penalty, having found the company liable for
26 violations for neglecting to prepare or present eight I-9 forms and
improperly completing 18 such forms.

Judge Paddack's departure comes less than two years after the EOIR revealed her
ALJ appointment in December 2014.

[SaveMeASeat]

Jul 18, 2016 12:02:23 GMT -5 wacokid said:

My references are being contacted, but I have not been contacted for a second interview.

I heard that references get checked prior to second interviews being arranged.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[batman1463]

Can you share what geographic part of the country you applied for IJ consideration?

[SaveMeASeat]

I heard of one person who had a second round interview with the DAG last week. That person applied for SE and NE cities.

[batman1463]

Thank you!

[sealaw90]

Jul 18, 2016 12:37:36 GMT -5 @papajudge said:

EOIR news:
Law360, New York (July 6, 2016, 6:24 PM ET) -- Administrative Law Judge Stacy S.
Paddack has departed her post at the Executive Office for Immigration Review
less than two years after her appointment was unveiled, the agency acknowledged
Wednesday.
EOIR representative Kathryn Mattingly confirmed that Judge Paddack “left her
position” at the office and that ALJ Ellen Thomas had retired in April. Both
judges heard cases with the EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing
Officer, which examines fines over I-9 form violations.

When asked if she could give any information on why Judge Paddack vacated her
position, Mattingly said, “We have no further comment.”

Mattingly did note that the EOIR “has accepted the temporary detail of two
ALJs from theFederal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission to serve” the
Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer.

“The two ALJs currently on detail to OCAHO both have demonstrated their
proficiency with administrative law matters through their successful passage of
the ALJ examination and their past work history as ALJs,” the representative
wrote. “The ALJs also received training on OCAHO’s areas of jurisdiction and
case procedures, and are assisted by experienced OCAHO legal and administrative
support staff in their adjudication of OCAHO cases.”

She also pointed out that EOIR has posted a job notice for an ALJ on the U.S.
Office of Personnel Management’s employment site.

During her tenure, Judge Paddack had handled various cases related to I-9 forms.
One decision, however, really caused a stir: She ruled that at least one
attorney for Louisiana Crane Co. LLC committed plagiarism by copying text from a
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage without any attribution.

More recently, Judge Paddack ordered East Coast Foods Inc., which does business
as Roscoe’s House of Chicken 'n Waffles, to pay a penalty of $18,350, after
finding the company failed to prepare or present I-9 forms for certain workers
among other form-related violations.

In a separate case, Judge Paddack ordered fruit and vegetable supplier Cawoods
Produce Inc. to pay a $14,575 civil penalty, having found the company liable for
26 violations for neglecting to prepare or present eight I-9 forms and
improperly completing 18 such forms.

Judge Paddack's departure comes less than two years after the EOIR revealed her
ALJ appointment in December 2014.

Wow, this is fascinating reading. Anybody know where she went to? OMHA? SSA?

Thanks for posting papajudge.

[Gaidin]

Very interesting

[moopigsdad]

Jul 24, 2016 16:41:18 GMT -5 sealaw90 said:

Jul 18, 2016 12:37:36 GMT -5 @papajudge said:

EOIR news:
Law360, New York (July 6, 2016, 6:24 PM ET) -- Administrative Law Judge Stacy S.
Paddack has departed her post at the Executive Office for Immigration Review
less than two years after her appointment was unveiled, the agency acknowledged
Wednesday.
EOIR representative Kathryn Mattingly confirmed that Judge Paddack “left her
position” at the office and that ALJ Ellen Thomas had retired in April. Both
judges heard cases with the EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing
Officer, which examines fines over I-9 form violations.

When asked if she could give any information on why Judge Paddack vacated her
position, Mattingly said, “We have no further comment.”

Mattingly did note that the EOIR “has accepted the temporary detail of two
ALJs from theFederal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission to serve” the
Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer.

“The two ALJs currently on detail to OCAHO both have demonstrated their
proficiency with administrative law matters through their successful passage of
the ALJ examination and their past work history as ALJs,” the representative
wrote. “The ALJs also received training on OCAHO’s areas of jurisdiction and
case procedures, and are assisted by experienced OCAHO legal and administrative
support staff in their adjudication of OCAHO cases.”

She also pointed out that EOIR has posted a job notice for an ALJ on the U.S.
Office of Personnel Management’s employment site.

During her tenure, Judge Paddack had handled various cases related to I-9 forms.
One decision, however, really caused a stir: She ruled that at least one
attorney for Louisiana Crane Co. LLC committed plagiarism by copying text from a
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage without any attribution.

More recently, Judge Paddack ordered East Coast Foods Inc., which does business
as Roscoe’s House of Chicken 'n Waffles, to pay a penalty of $18,350, after
finding the company failed to prepare or present I-9 forms for certain workers
among other form-related violations.

In a separate case, Judge Paddack ordered fruit and vegetable supplier Cawoods
Produce Inc. to pay a $14,575 civil penalty, having found the company liable for
26 violations for neglecting to prepare or present eight I-9 forms and
improperly completing 18 such forms.

Judge Paddack's departure comes less than two years after the EOIR revealed her
ALJ appointment in December 2014.

Wow, this is fascinating reading. Anybody know where she went to? OMHA? SSA?

Thanks for posting papajudge.

Interesting indeed. She would not fit in well at OMHA, but evidently she had trouble fitting in at EOIR, too.

[stevil]

EOIR IJ's are not protected the way OPM ALJs are. They have a 2-year probation period. She may simply have been let go.

[gary]

Jul 25, 2016 7:37:14 GMT -5 stevil said:

EOIR IJ's are not protected the way OPM ALJs are. They have a 2-year probation period. She may simply have been let go.

She was an EOIR ALJ--not an IJ.

[stevil]

My mistake! I had one OCAHO appeal, but they settled before the hearing.

[aljwatch]

I believe ALJ Paddack was very well thought of, but returned to a SSA ALJ position (her choice) because SSA had more flexible telework options (and OCAHO was not willing to be flexible, despite indicating some possibility when she was hired).

[sealaw90]

Thank you for clearing this up aljwatch.

[foghorn]

As always, the group sourcing of information makes this site the first stop for all things ALJ.

[jafo]

www.justice.gov/eoir/pr/eoir-swears-five-immigration-judges

5 more IJs sworn in.
Although the private bar may disagree, all bring excellent background and experience to this position. I do know of some fairly recent second round interviews for a few fortunate 2015 applicants.