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 Christian M Pressman earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from the University of Miami, a Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of Miami School of Law, and a Legum Magister (LL.M.) in 2000 from the University of Miami School of Law. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/DHS in Miami (2003-2018), as an assistant district counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in Miami (2002-2003), and as a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Judge Norman C. Roettger Jr. in the Southern District of Florida (2000-2002).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,356
Completions per year
8,134 total
6.4%
Detained at decision
share of cases
11.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
11.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
1.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
18.6%
Appeals remanded or reversed
102 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.
92.5%
Bond requests granted
293 bond decisions High confidence
$5,000
Median bond when set
390 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 92.5%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
38.6%
233 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
4%
299 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
82.6%⚠
23 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
91.7%⚠
12 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
97.1%⚠
34 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
78.9%⚠
19 decisions Too few cases
38.6%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 233 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
38.6%
This court
20.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 32% 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 · 210 decisions since 2021
40.5%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 23 decisions since 2021
21.7%
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.
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).