U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Office of the Director
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2600
Falls Church, Virginia 22041

April 24, 2009

EOIR Swears In 10 Immigration Judges
New Judges To Serve In Nine Immigration Courts Nationwide

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that 10 immigration judges were sworn in today during an investiture ceremony at EOIR Headquarters in Falls Church, Va.

The judges were appointed by the Attorney General after completing a rigorous application, evaluation, and interview process.  They join the ranks of more than 220 immigration judges located in more than 50 immigration courts nationwide. 

Immigration judges conduct administrative courtroom proceedings.  They determine whether foreign-born individuals –– who are charged by the Department of Homeland Security with violating immigration law –– should be ordered removed from the United States or may be granted relief from removal and permitted to remain in this country.  Immigration judges decide cases based on U.S. immigration law and on a case-by-case basis.  Their decisions are final unless appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals.  In Fiscal Year 2008, immigration judges completed more than 350,000 proceedings.

Acting Chief Immigration Judge Michael C. McGoings administered the oath of office to  the following new immigration judges who will preside in the immigration courts indicated below.  Biographical information for the new immigration judges follows.

Boston Immigration Court

Brenda M. O’Malley, Immigration Judge

Judge O’Malley was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1992 from Boston University and a juris doctorate in 1995 from Suffolk University Law School.  From April 2007 to April 2009, Judge O’Malley served as an associate regional counsel with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Boston.  From June 2004 to June 2007, she served as counsel to the Chief Immigration Judge in Falls Church, Va.  From May 1998 to June 2004, Judge O’Malley worked at the Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, Washington, DC, as a trial attorney.  From October 1996 to May 1998, she worked as an associate general counsel for the Office of the General Counsel, EOIR, in Falls Church, Va.  From September 1995 to September 1996, Judge O’Malley worked as a judicial law clerk at the Boston Immigration Court, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.  She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.

Dallas Immigration Court

Michael P. Baird, Immigration Judge

Judge Baird was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  He received a bachelor of business administration in 1989 from Clayton State University and a juris doctorate in 1992 from Georgia State University College of Law.   From 2006 to April 2009, Judge Baird served as an assistant district attorney in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit in Georgia.  From 2004 to 2006, he served as a judge in the Municipal Court of Jonesboro, Ga.  From 1997 to 2004, he was Chief Judge for the Magistrate Court of Clayton County, Ga.  From 1995 to 1996, Judge Baird was in private practice.  From 1993 to 1995, he served as senior assistant solicitor general at the Clayton County Solicitor’s Office.  From 1992 to 1993, he was in private practice.  From 1986 to 1990, Judge Baird was a police officer with the Lake City Police Department.  From 1998 to 2008, he has also served as an assistant professor and on the adjunct faculty in the university system of Georgia.  Judge Baird is a member of the Georgia Bar.

Kansas City Immigration Court

Paula V. Davis, Immigration Judge

Judge Davis was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1970 from the University of Kansas and a juris doctorate in 1988 from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law.  From March 2003 to April 2009, Judge Davis served as assistant chief counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS.  From September 1988 to March 2003, she served as a trial attorney for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.  Judge Davis is a member of the Missouri Bar.

Los Angeles Immigration Court

Rodin Rooyani, Immigration Judge

Judge Rooyani was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1995 from George Mason University and a juris doctorate in 1998 from the University of Maryland School of Law.  From November 2004 to April 2009, Judge Rooyani served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California where she was assigned to the Criminal Division’s National Security Section.  From March 2003 to November 2004, she served as an assistant chief counsel with ICE.  From September 1998 to March 2003, Judge Rooyani served as a trial attorney with the former INS.  She is a member of the Maryland and California bars.

Miami Immigration Court

Maria M. Lopez-Enriquez, Immigration Judge

Judge Lopez-Enriquez was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of science degree in 1988 from the University of Florida, College of Business; a juris doctorate in 1991 from the University of Florida, College of Law; and a master of international business in 1993 from Florida International University.  From September 2006 to April 2009, Judge Lopez-Enriquez served as an assistant chief counsel for ICE, DHS, in Miami.  During this time, from February 2007 to April 2009, her duty station was at the Krome Detention Center,  From 2005 to September 2006, she was in private practice in Davie, Fla.  From 2003 to 2005, Judge Lopez-Enriquez served as a trial attorney with ICE, DHS, in Miami.  From 1994 to 2002, she worked as a trial attorney and asylum officer with the former INS in Miami.  From 1993 to 1994, Judge Lopez-Enriquez was in private practice in Miami.  From 1992 to 1993, she worked for the Legal Services of Greater Miami on the American Immigration Lawyers Association pro bono project.  Judge Lopez-Enriquez is a member of the Florida Bar.

Lourdes Martinez-Esquivel, Immigration Judge

Judge Martinez-Esquivel was appointed to be an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of science in business administration in 1983 from Georgetown University; a master of business administration in 1987 from Florida International University; and a juris doctorate in 1990 from Boston College Law School.  From 1997 to 2009, Judge Lourdes Martinez-Esquivel worked as managing attorney with the Law Office of Lourdes Martinez-Esquivel.  During this time, from 1999 to 2003, she also served as an adjunct professor at Florida International University.  From 2006 to 2007, Judge Martinez-Esquivel served as president for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, South Florida Chapter.  She is board certified as a specialist in immigration and nationality law by the Florida Bar.  From 2004 to 2005, Judge Martinez-Esquivel also served as chairperson for the Immigration and Nationality Law Certification Committee of the Florida Bar, where she served as a member from 2003 to 2007.  From 1992 to 1997, Judge Martinez-Esquivel was in private practice in Miami.  From 1990 to 1992, she worked as a judicial law clerk and attorney advisor at the Miami Immigration Court. Judge Martinez-Esquivel is a member of the Florida Bar.

New York Immigration Court

Mary M. Cheng, Immigration Judge

Judge Cheng was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1993 from New York University and a juris doctorate in 1997 from New York Law School.  From March 2003 to April 2009, Judge Cheng served as an assistant chief counsel, ICE, DHS, in New York.  From June 2002 to March 2003, she worked as an assistant district counsel for the former INS in New York.  From August 2000 to May 2002, Judge Cheng was in private practice in New York.  During this time, from June 2001 to June 2002, Judge Cheng worked as an administrative law judge for the New York City Department of Finance.  From September 1998 to July 2000, she worked as an assistant district counsel for the former INS in New York.  From September 1997 to September 1998, Judge Cheng worked as an attorney advisor in the New York Immigration Court entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.  She is a member of the New York State Bar.

Omaha Immigration Court

Daniel A. Morris, Immigration Judge

Judge Morris was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  He received a bachelor of science degree in 1976 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; a juris doctorate in 1981 from Creighton University School of Law; and a master of business administration in 1981 from Creighton University Graduate School.  From October 2005 to April 2009, Judge Morris served as an assistant chief counsel, ICE, DHS, in Omaha.  From April 2002 to October 2005, he was in private practice in Omaha.  From 1987 to 2002, Judge Morris was an assistant U.S. Attorney, also in Omaha.  He is a member of the Nebraska Bar.

Orlando Immigration Court

James K. Grim, Immigration Judge

Judge Grim was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1988 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a juris doctorate in 1992 from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  From October 2008 to April 2009, Judge Grim served as deputy chief counsel for ICE, DHS, in Orlando.  From October 2005 to October 2008, he served as an attorney for Customs and Border Protection, DHS, in Tampa.  From March 2003 to October 2005, Judge Grim served as an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Bradenton.  From October 1995 to March 2003, he served as an assistant district counsel for the former INS in Bradenton and Miami.  From October 1993 to October 1995, Judge Grim was in private practice in Fremont, Neb.  From February to October 1993, he worked as a staff attorney at Legal Services of Southeast Nebraska.  Judge Grim is a member of the Nebraska Bar.

San Francisco Immigration Court

Robert P. “Print” Maggard, Immigration Judge

Judge Maggard was appointed as an immigration judge in April 2009.  He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1982 from Western Kentucky University; a masters of public administration in 1987 from Golden Gate University; a juris doctorate in 1990 from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law; and a master of laws degree in 1999 from the George Washington University.  From July 2006 to April 2009, Judge Maggard served as an assistant chief counsel, ICE, DHS, in San Francisco.  From July 1985 to July 2006, he served in the Air Force in many capacities including military judge, regional counsel, deputy regional counsel, deputy chief circuit defense counsel, area defense counsel, chief, military justice, and a member of the adjunct faculty at the Air Force Judge Advocate’s School.  He is a member of the California Bar.

–– EOIR ––

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice.  Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws.  EOIR’s immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation.  They determine whether foreign-born individuals—who are charged by the Department of Homeland Security with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country.  The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges.  EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases.  EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.

 

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