September 8, 2006
Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office
In Newark
NEWARK - Frederic G. Leeds was sworn in today as an immigration judge during an investiture ceremony at 1 p.m. at 970 Broad Street. 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 Leeds 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 300,000 matters. They also are authorized to administer oaths of citizenship to candidates for naturalization.
Frederic G. Leeds was appointed as an immigration judge in March 2006. He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 from Columbia University and a juris doctorate in 1987 from American University Washington College of Law. From September 1998 to March 2006, Judge Leeds was in private practice in Freehold, NJ. During this time, he served as a state and federal court arbitrator, court mediator, and a contract hearing officer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Administrative Office of the Federal Courts. Judge Leeds also served as trial attorney from May 1997 to September 1998 with the Law Offices of Edward Hoagland in Somerset; from July 1996 to April 1997, with the Law Offices of Craig Terkowitz in Piscataway; and from June 1989 to March 1996, with the Public Service Electric and Gas Company in Newark. From September 1988 to March 1989, Judge Leeds was an associate in the Law Offices of Leonard Franco. He is a member of the New Jersey, District of Columbia, and New York bars.
- 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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