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 Michael A. Schnitzer earned a Bachelor of Science in 1994 from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from The John Marshall Law School. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/DHS in Phoenix (2016-2020), held several positions with the Illinois Office of the Attorney General (2012-2016), and was in private practice in Chicago (1998-2012).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
965
Completions per year
5,792 total
40.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
0.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
1.5%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
4.8%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
14.3%
Appeals remanded or reversed
105 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.
20.1%
Bond requests granted
1,473 bond decisions High confidence
$7,000
Median bond when set
296 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 20.1%
Court average 26.4% · median $7,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
8.1%
308 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
9%
636 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
12.8%
133 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
50%⚠
20 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
95.3%⚠
43 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
80%
489 decisions High confidence
8.1%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 308 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
8.1%
This court
17.8%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 14% 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 · 205 decisions since 2021
10.7%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 103 decisions since 2021
2.9%
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).