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 Leon J Francis earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from Boise State University, a Juris Doctor in 1996 from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in 2009 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 1996 to 2018, he served as a judge advocate with the U.S. Marine Corps in locations including Kaneohe, Hawaii; Camp Pendleton, California; the Pentagon; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; and Yuma, Arizona, serving as a military judge for the last six years of his military career. He is a member of the Idaho State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
983
Completions per year
5,897 total
1%
Detained at decision
share of cases
16.1 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
23.2%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
15.1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
7.7%
Appeals remanded or reversed
130 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
22.2%
1,073 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1%
1,429 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
44%
50 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
75%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
75.9%⚠
29 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
93%
57 decisions Moderate
22.2%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 1,073 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
22.2%
This court
19.1%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 44% 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 · 968 decisions since 2021
23.9%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 105 decisions since 2021
6.7%
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).