March 23, 2007
Baltimore Immigration Judge Participates
in Naturalization Ceremonies
BALTIMORE – Immigration Judge Elizabeth A. Kessler from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Baltimore Immigration Court, delivered the keynote speech and administered the oath of citizenship during two naturalization ceremonies for approximately 150 candidates today at the George H. Fallon Federal Building.
The ceremonies were hosted by the Baltimore District Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.
Biographical Information
Elizabeth A. Kessler was appointed as an immigration judge in January 2006. She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1987 from Columbia University, a master of arts degree in international relations in 1992 from Yale Graduate School, and a juris doctorate in 1992 from Yale Law School. From November 2003 to January 2006, Judge Kessler served as a deputy associate attorney general at the Department of Justice (DOJ). She previously served as a deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy. Judge Kessler served as General Counsel with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, in Washington, D.C., from January 1997 to 1999, and as Counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee from January 1995 to January 1997. From 1993 to 1994, she was an attorney with the Civil Division, Appellate Staff, at DOJ, and a Bristow Fellow with the Office of the Solicitor General. Judge Kessler served as a law clerk with Judge Richard J. Cardamone, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, from 1992 to 1993. She is a member of both the Maryland and District of Columbia bars.
– EOIR –
EOIR is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases. Specifically,
under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers
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 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.
| Contact: | Office of Legislative and Public Affairs |
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| Internet: | www.usdoj.gov/eoir |