June 5, 2006
Two Immigration Judges Take Oath of Office
In Miami
MIAMI – Mark H. Metcalf and Earle B. Wilson were sworn in today as immigration judges during an investiture ceremony at 1 p.m. at the David Dyer Federal Courthouse. Acting Chief Immigration Judge David L. Neal, from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, Va., administered the oath of office.
Judge Metcalf and Judge Wilson join 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.
Mark H. Metcalf was appointed as an immigration judge in December 2005. He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1980 and a juris doctorate in 1985, both from the University of Kentucky. From January 2005 to December 2005, Judge Metcalf served as senior counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C. He was an associate deputy general counsel, Department of Defense, from July 2004 to January 2005. Judge Metcalf served as special counsel for domestic security, Criminal Division, DOJ, from January 2003 to July 2004. From April 2002 to February 2003, he served as special counsel for election reform in the Civil Rights Division at DOJ. Judge Metcalf practiced law in the law firm of Metcalf & Metcalf and worked as a prosecutor in Kentucky before coming to DOJ. In 1999, Judge Metcalf was appointed assistant commonwealth’s attorney and, in 1990 and 1994, was elected Garrard County attorney. From 1980 to 1981, Judge Metcalf served as an aide for foreign affairs and defense to Congressman Harold Rogers. He is a member of the Kentucky State Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
Earle B. Wilson was appointed as an immigration judge in October 2005. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1979 from Atlantic Union College and a juris doctorate in 1989 from Howard University School of Law. Judge Wilson served as a senior litigation counsel from January 2003 to October 2004 and trial attorney from October 1998 to December 2002, both with the Office of Immigration Litigation, Department of Justice, in Washington, D.C. He worked as an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland from October 1996 to October 1998. Judge Wilson served as senior counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., from February 1992 to October 1996. He was an associate attorney with the law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn in Detroit, Mich., from August 1990 to February 1992. Judge Wilson served as law clerk to the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett (retired) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Tallahassee, Fla., from July 1989 to July 1990. He is a member of the Maryland Bar.
- EOIR -
EOIR is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases. Specifically, under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers the federal immigration laws by conducting immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three components: the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the numerous immigration courts located throughout the United States where immigration judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of immigration judge decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to providing the fair, expeditious, and uniform application of the nation's immigration laws in all cases.
Information about EOIR immigration proceedings is available on EOIR’s website at http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/press/subject.htm.
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