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 Jacob J. Stender earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 from Western Washington University and a Juris Doctor in 2012 from Seattle University School of Law. Before his appointment he served as lead administrative law judge (2020-2023) and administrative law judge (2017-2020) for the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings, and as a district court commissioner for the District Court of Maryland (2013-2017). He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Maryland State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
598
Completions per year
3,591 total
5.8%
Detained at decision
share of cases
23.2 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
44%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
6.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 13 appeals — too few
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
25%⚠
Bond requests granted
4 bond decisions Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
100%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 25%
Court average 10%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
52.4%
548 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.6%
494 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
0%⚠
12 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
87.5%⚠
8 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
96%
50 decisions Moderate
52.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 548 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
52.4%
This court
57.1%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 17% 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 · 531 decisions since 2021
53.5%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 17 decisions since 2021
17.6%
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).