Appointed August 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 Jonathan Hall earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 from the University of Rhode Island, a Juris Doctor in 2011 from Suffolk University Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2013 from American University Washington College of Law. From 2021 to 2023, he served as an administrative law judge with the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. He earlier was an assistant general counsel with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (2016-2021) and an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia (2013-2016). Judge Hall is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
385
Completions per year
2,308 total
1.6%
Detained at decision
share of cases
25.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
1.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
0%
Appeals remanded or reversed
32 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.
71.4%⚠
Bond requests granted
7 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,000
Median bond when set
5 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 71.4%
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
46.4%
237 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
13.5%
215 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
47.1%⚠
17 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
91.7%⚠
12 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
92.6%⚠
27 decisions Too few cases
46.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 237 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
46.4%
This court
45.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 23% 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 · 233 decisions since 2021
46.8%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 4 decisions since 2021
25%
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).