The Honorable Immigration Judge Jennifer C Whitko
Aurora, CO Immigration Court
Appointed February 2026 · President Donald Trump → Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Less than a year on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Jennifer C Whitko earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1994 from Tulane University, a Juris Doctor in 1997 from California Western School of Law, a Master of Arts in 1999 from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Business Administration in 2009 from Regis University. From 2023 to November 2025, she was an associate general counsel for Coherent Corp., and earlier held senior legal roles including senior legal counsel and vice president of ethics and trade compliance for FlightSafety International (2020-2022), associate general counsel for UnitedHealthcare (2017-2020), and general counsel and director of compliance for CNIC Health Solutions (2010-2014). Since 1999 she has served in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps and holds the rank of colonel. She is a member of the State Bar of California.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
159
Completions per year
159 total
79.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
5.2 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
26.4%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 6 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.
27.8%⚠
Bond requests granted
18 bond decisions Too few cases
$22,500
Median bond when set
6 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 27.8%
Court average 59.8% · median $4,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
| Asylum | |
4.3%⚠ |
23 decisions Too few cases |
| Withholding / CAT | |
2.1%⚠ |
48 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR) | |
0%⚠ |
25 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42A (LPR) | |
0%⚠ |
2 decisions Too few cases |
| Adjustment of status (245) | |
25%⚠ |
4 decisions Too few cases |
| Voluntary departure | |
88% |
50 decisions Moderate |
4.3%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 23 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyer⚠represented · 13 decisions since 2021
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 10 decisions since 2021
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).