July 28, 2003
Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office
In El Paso, Texas
EL PASO, TX – Richard Randall Ozmun was sworn in today as an Immigration Judge during an investiture ceremony at 10 a.m., at the Eighth Court of Appeals, El Paso County Courthouse, El Paso. Chief Immigration Judge Michael J. Creppy, from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, VA, administered the oath of office.
Judge Ozmun joins the ranks of more than 200 Immigration Judges located in 52 Immigration Courts throughout the nation. Immigration Judges are responsible for conducting formal administrative proceedings to determine whether foreign-born individuals who are charged with violations of federal immigration law should be removed from the United States or may be granted relief from removal. Immigration Judges decide each case independently and their decisions are final unless appealed or certified to the Board of Immigration Appeals. In the past year, Immigration Judges completed more than 250,000 such proceedings. They also are authorized to administer oaths of citizenship to candidates for naturalization.
Judge Ozmun was appointed Immigration Judge in July 2002. Prior to his assignment in the El Paso Court in October 2002, Judge Ozmun served as an Immigration Judge in Los Angeles. He received his B.A. in 1968 from Southwestern State University, Weatherford, OK, and his J.D. in 1977 from the University of Oklahoma. Judge Ozmun retired from the U.S. Navy in July 2002 after serving for 33 years. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court.
EOIR is a component of the Department of Justice which, on behalf of the Attorney General, adjudicates cases involving aliens who are charged with immigration violations. The agency also includes the Board of Immigration Appeals to hear appeals of Immigration Judge decisions and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer to handle employment-related immigration matters.
- EOIR -
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office |
| (703)305-0289, Fax: (703)605-0365 | |
| Internet: | www.usdoj.gov/eoir |