Appointed May 2023 · President Joe Biden→ Attorney General Merrick Garland(AG inferred from date)
3 years on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Democratic administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Hannah Kubica earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2005 from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. From 2016 to 2023, she was an associate and later senior associate at McHaffey & Nice LLC in Boston, representing noncitizens before EOIR and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. She earlier practiced at Joyce & Associates PC in Boston (2011-2016) and at GNP Law and Weir & Partners LLC (2008-2011), and provided pro bono services at the Rian Immigrant Center. Judge Kubica is a member of the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Bars.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
511
Completions per year
3,065 total
1%
Detained at decision
share of cases
32.7 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
2.2%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
10.4%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
3.6%
Appeals remanded or reversed
195 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.
33.3%⚠
Bond requests granted
3 bond decisions Too few cases
$2,500
Median bond when set
1 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 33.3%
Court average 26.6% · median $6,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
30.8%
464 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1%
592 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
55.2%⚠
29 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
50%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
96.2%⚠
26 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
66.7%⚠
30 decisions Too few cases
30.8%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 464 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
30.8%
This court
45.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 43% 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 · 458 decisions since 2021
31.2%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 6 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.
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).