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 Owens earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from Michigan State University, Detroit College of Law. He served as an administrative law judge manager (2014-2018) and as an administrative law judge (2007-2014) for Michigan's Licensing and Regulatory Affairs division, and earlier worked as a departmental analyst for Michigan's Office of Child Support (2003-2007). He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,172
Completions per year
7,031 total
2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
21.7 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
31.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.7%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
76.9%
Appeals remanded or reversed
156 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.
53.8%⚠
Bond requests granted
13 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,000
Median bond when set
7 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 53.8%
Court average 37.1% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
19.1%
199 decisions Moderate
Withholding / CAT
1.2%
345 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
34.6%⚠
26 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
50%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
69.2%⚠
13 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
93.7%
126 decisions Moderate
19.1%
of asylum claims granted on the merits Moderate
Based on 199 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
19.1%
This court
19.3%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 38% 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 · 183 decisions since 2021
20.8%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 16 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.
* 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).