FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of five new immigration judges. Chief Immigration Judge MaryBeth Keller presided over the investiture during a ceremony held Nov. 4, 2016, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in Washington, D.C.

After a thorough application process, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Kerri A. Calcador, Randall Wilson Duncan, Rico M. Sogocio, Karen M. Donoso Stevens, and Dean S. Tuckman to their new positions.

“I am pleased to preside over the investiture of these five appointees in my new role as chief immigration judge,” said Keller. “With these appointments, EOIR now has 296 immigration judges, setting a new all-time high for our immigration judge corps and further strengthening our efforts to address the agency’s pending caseload of more than 500,000.”

Biographical information follows.

Kerri A. Calcador, Immigration Judge, Los Angeles Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Kerri A. Calcador to begin hearing cases in October 2016. Judge Calcador earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994 from the University of San Diego and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of San Diego School of Law. From 2007 to October 2016, she served as a senior attorney for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in San Diego. From 2006 through 2007, she served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, Department of Justice (DOJ), in San Diego. From 2002 to October 2016, and previously from 1997 through 2001, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS, in Los Angeles and San Diego. From 1999 through 2001, she served as an assistant district counsel for the Office of the District Counsel, former Immigration and Naturalization Service, DOJ, in Los Angeles, during which time she also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, DOJ. Judge Calcador is a member of the State Bar of California.

Randall Wilson Duncan, Immigration Judge, Stewart Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Randall Wilson Duncan to begin hearing cases in October 2016. Judge Duncan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 and a Master of Public Administration in 1985, both from the University of Georgia, and a Juris Doctor in 1995 from the John Marshall Law School. From 2007 to October 2016, he served in various capacities for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, including as a senior attorney, national security attorney, worksite enforcement attorney, special assistant U.S. attorney, and assistant chief counsel, in Atlanta. From 2003 through 2007, he served as a deputy director for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, in Atlanta. From 2002 through 2003, he served as legal director for the Georgia Sentencing Commission, in Atlanta. From 2000 through 2002, he served as an assistant district attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, in Newnan, Ga. From 1997 through 1999, he served as a public policy attorney for Applied Research Services, in Atlanta. Judge Duncan is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. 

Rico M. Sogocio, Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Rico M. Sogocio to begin hearing cases in October 2016. Judge Sogocio earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. From 2010 to October 2016, he served as a senior counsel for the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice (DOJ), in Falls Church, Va. From 2002 through 2010, he held numerous positions in private practice, including: from 2008 through 2010 as principal and general counsel for Miami Media Labs LLC, in Miami; from 2005 through 2007 as an outside legal advisor for Nextream Broadband Inc., in Hallandale, Fla.; from 2004 through 2006 as principal and general counsel for IMProServices Inc., in Miami; and from 2002 through 2010 as of-counsel for Burgos & Sosa PA, in Miami. From 2001 through 2003, he served as a consultant for Plave Manten Consulting Group and as corporate counsel for PMC4 LLC, in Aventura, Fla. From 1999 through 2001, he served as a litigation associate for Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart PA, in Miami. From 1994 through 1999, he served in various capacities for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, DOJ, including as an assistant district counsel and senior litigation counsel. From 1996 through 1998, he also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, DOJ. From 2008 through 2010, he served as an adjunct professor on the faculty of the Miami-Dade College Law Center. Judge Sogocio is a member of the Florida and Pennsylvania Bars.

Karen M. Donoso Stevens, Immigration Judge, Arlington Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Karen M. Donoso Stevens to begin hearing cases in October 2016. Judge Donoso Stevens earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor in 1999 from the Michigan State University College of Law. From 2010 to October 2016, she served as a senior attorney for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Arlington, Va. From 2007 through 2010, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS, in Arlington, Va. From 2005 through 2006, she served as a staff attorney for the Children’s Project at the National Immigrant Justice Center, in Chicago. From 2001 through 2003, she served as juvenile diversion program director for the California Bar Foundation, Orange County, Calif. In 2001, she served as family services coordinator for the Children’s Bureau of Southern California, in Santa Ana, Calif. From 1999 through 2000, she served as an assistant state’s attorney for the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office, in Cook County, Chicago. Judge Donoso Stevens is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Dean S. Tuckman, Immigration Judge, El Paso Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Dean S. Tuckman to begin hearing cases in October 2016. Judge Tuckman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. From 1998 to October 2016, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, in Albuquerque, N.M. From 1995 through 1998, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable James A. Parker, U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico. From 1992 through 1995, he served as a litigation associate for Latham & Watkins, in New York City. Judge Tuckman is a member of the Colorado, Connecticut, and District of Columbia Bars, the State Bar of New Mexico, and the New York State Bar.