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 Charles N Purnell earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 from California State University, Fullerton, a Juris Doctor in 1987 from Vanderbilt University Law School, and two Master of Laws degrees in 2001 from George Washington University Law School and Georgetown University Law School. Before his appointment, he served as assistant judge advocate general and chief judge for the Department of the Navy (2018-2022), as chief judge of the Navy and Marine Corps Trial Judiciary (2015-2018), and in numerous judge advocate roles with the U.S. Navy from 1989 to 2018, retiring as a rear admiral in 2023.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
352
Completions per year
2,115 total
33.1%
Detained at decision
share of cases
25.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
9%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
18%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
12.7%
Appeals remanded or reversed
71 appeals decided
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
56.8%⚠
Bond requests granted
44 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,500
Median bond when set
20 bonds with amounts
4%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 56.8%
Court average 100% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
2.8%
427 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.5%
817 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
8.3%⚠
48 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
80%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
80%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
95.5%
88 decisions Moderate
2.8%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 427 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
2.8%
This court
12.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 4% 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 · 372 decisions since 2021
3.2%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 55 decisions since 2021
0%
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).