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 Jonathan W Hitesman earned a Bachelor of Science in 1990 from Norwich University, a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of Hawaii, and a Master of Laws in 2004 from Georgetown University Law Center. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990 to 2020, first as an infantry officer and later as a judge advocate, retiring as a senior appellate military judge with the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. He is licensed in the Hawaii and Minnesota state bars.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
568
Completions per year
3,407 total
10.6%
Detained at decision
share of cases
14.2 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
28%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.9%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
0%
Appeals remanded or reversed
51 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.
28.6%⚠
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 28.6%
Court average 50% · median $20,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
31.7%
218 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
7.9%
216 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
87.5%⚠
24 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
90%⚠
10 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
98.6%
356 decisions High confidence
31.7%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 218 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
31.7%
This court
66%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 41% 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 · 144 decisions since 2021
46.5%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 74 decisions since 2021
2.7%
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).