Source: EOIR — Find an Immigration Court.
Recording an internet-based hearing is prohibited (8 C.F.R. § 1003.28). Respondents without a representative default to in-person hearings.
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Anita L. Simons earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1999 from the University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. From 2013 to 2018, she served as an administrative law judge with the Executive Hearing Office, Arizona Department of Transportation, and from 2007 to 2013 as a deputy county attorney in the Criminal Division of the Pima County Attorney's Office in Arizona. She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,126
Completions per year
6,754 total
1.3%
Detained at decision
share of cases
23.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
21.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
9.5%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
6.5%
Appeals remanded or reversed
62 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
32%
1,204 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.4%
1,512 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
91.7%
265 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
84.6%⚠
13 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
98.2%
57 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
93.6%⚠
47 decisions Too few cases
32%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 1,204 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
32%
This court
32.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 41% of the 825 judges nationally with enough cases to compare.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyerrepresented · 1,162 decisions since 2021
33%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 42 decisions since 2021
4.8%
Asylum grant rate over time
Each point is that calendar year's grant rate, back to 2015 where the judge was deciding cases — the longer career view. Dashed grey line = current national average (31.8%). Headline rates above use 2021 – today.
* 2026 is a partial year (data through 06/01/2026) and is incomplete.
Courts where this judge has decided cases
Hearing locations for cases this judge completed since 2021, by number of decisions.
Many judges hear cases from more than one court (detained facilities, video dockets, or reassignments).