May 22, 2006
Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office
In New York
NEW YORK – Thomas J. Mulligan was sworn in today as an immigration judge during an investiture ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Court of International Trade. 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 Mulligan 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.
Thomas J. Mulligan was appointed as an immigration judge in October 2005. He received a bachelors of science degree from St. John’s University in 1974, a master of professional studies degree from Long Island University in 1978, and a juris doctorate from St. John’s University in 1982. Judge Mulligan was an attorney at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, and its predecessor firm, from 1985 until 2005. He was an associate at Bigham Englar Jones & Houston from 1982 to 1985. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was a police officer at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office from 1977 to 1982 and taught at the New York City Police Academy from 1975 to 1977. Judge Mulligan is a member of the New York 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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