The Honorable Immigration Judge Joseph Lucas
Portland, OR Immigration Court
Appointed July 2026 · President Donald Trump → Attorney General Pamela Bondi (AG inferred from date)
Less than a year on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Joseph Lucas was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in July 2026. Judge Lucas earned a Bachelor of Science in 2007 from the University of Oregon, a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2011 from Willamette University College of Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2015 from Walden University. From May 2025 to February 2026, he served as an assistant legal counsel at Clackamas County in Oregon City, Oregon. From July 2021 to May 2025, he served as an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings for the State of Oregon. From September 2016 through December 2020, he served as the Harney County district attorney in Burns, Oregon, after serving as a deputy district attorney from November 2011 to August 2016. Judge Lucas is a member of the Oregon State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
4
Completions per year
12 total
16.7%
Detained at decision
share of cases
18.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
0%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
This judge has no asylum decisions on the merits in this period (since 2021).
Representation comparison unavailable.
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).