The Honorable Immigration Judge Leah Obrien
Otay Mesa, CA 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
Attend this judge's internet-based hearing
EOIR publishes a WebEx link and telephonic access code for each sitting judge. Use these
only if you have a hearing scheduled before this judge.
▶ Join by WebEx
Dial 1-415-527-5035Access code: 2827 823 0536Telephonic access
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 Leah O'Brien earned a Bachelor of Science in 2005 from the University of Georgia, a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2020 from George Washington University Law School. She has served as an active-duty Navy officer since 2008, holding the rank of commander, with recent roles including director of the Navy's Trial Counsel Assistance Program and lead national security prosecutor, as well as senior prosecutor and managing defense counsel positions.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
158
Completions per year
158 total
63.9%
Detained at decision
share of cases
7.7 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0.6%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
26.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 1 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.
50%⚠
Bond requests granted
2 bond decisions Too few cases
$2,000
Median bond when set
1 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 50%
Court average 60.8% · median $5,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
| Asylum | |
9.8%⚠ |
41 decisions Too few cases |
| Withholding / CAT | |
3.5% |
114 decisions Moderate |
| Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR) | |
10.5%⚠ |
19 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42A (LPR) | |
0%⚠ |
1 decision Too few cases |
| Adjustment of status (245) | |
100%⚠ |
2 decisions Too few cases |
| Voluntary departure | |
72.4%⚠ |
29 decisions Too few cases |
9.8%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 41 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 · 39 decisions since 2021
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 2 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).