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 David M. Paxton earned a Bachelor of Science in 1998 from Texas State University, a Master of Business Administration in 2004 from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Juris Doctor in 2009 from Santa Clara University School of Law. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas (2015-2021) and as a deputy district attorney for San Luis Obispo County, California (2011-2015). Earlier he worked as a systems engineer in Austin, Texas (1997-2004).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,254
Completions per year
7,525 total
7.9%
Detained at decision
share of cases
13.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
27.5%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
6.5%
Appeals remanded or reversed
62 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.
37.9%⚠
Bond requests granted
29 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,000
Median bond when set
7 bonds with amounts
45.5%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 37.9%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
8.8%
385 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.4%
652 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
5.1%⚠
39 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
85.7%⚠
14 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
68.2%⚠
44 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
83.8%
136 decisions Moderate
8.8%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 385 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
8.8%
This court
6.9%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 15% 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 · 307 decisions since 2021
10.1%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 78 decisions since 2021
3.8%
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).