August 11, 2005

Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office
In Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – William L. Nixon was sworn in today as an immigration judge during an investiture ceremony at 12 p.m. at the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.  Chief Immigration Judge Michael J. Creppy, from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, Va., administered the oath of office.  Guest speakers included Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Paul Warner, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah.

Judge Nixon joins the ranks of more than 200 immigration judges located in 53 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 300,000 matters.  They also are authorized to administer oaths of citizenship to candidates for naturalization.

William L. Nixon was appointed as an immigration judge in May 2005.  He received a bachelor of science degree in 1958 from Brigham Young University and a juris doctorate in 1962 from George Washington University.  Judge Nixon served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Salt Lake City from 1999 to May 2005.  He was chairman and CEO of Pro Wedge, Inc., Salt Lake City, from 1996 to 1999.  From 1991 to 1999, he served as a member on the Procurement Appeals Board for the state of Utah.  Judge Nixon was president and CEO of the Triax Co. and Triax Pacific, Ltd., Alpine, Utah, from 1984 to 1996, and vice president and general counsel for the Triax Co., Triax International, Praxis Ltd., and Praxis Pacific in Alpine from 1977 to 1984.  He was a partner in the law firm of Spafford, Nixon, and Houser, Salt Lake City, from 1975 to 1977; attorney and corporate officer for Tax Shelter Investment Cos., Salt Lake City, from 1969 to 1975; attorney in the law firm of Albaugh, Bloem, Smith, and Pike, Idaho Falls, Idaho, from 1963 to 1969; counsel for the review board, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, from 1962 to 1963; and law clerk for the law firm of Dow, Lohnes, and Albertson, Washington, DC, from 1958 to 1962.  Judge Nixon is a member of the Utah state bar and an associate member of the Virginia bar.

- EOIR -