Appointed August 2008 · President George W. Bush→ Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey(AG inferred from date)
18 years on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Richard A. Phelps received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1977 from Eastern New Mexico University and a Juris Doctor in 1979 from Oklahoma City University School of Law. From July 2001 to August 2008, he was an assistant chief counsel, trial attorney, and senior attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS. From October 1981 to January 2001, he served in the U.S. Air Force in various legal capacities, including as a staff judge advocate. Earlier he was in private practice (1980-1981) and an assistant trust officer at Clovis National Bank in Clovis, New Mexico (1979-1980). He is a member of the New Mexico Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
2
Completions per year
3 total
100%
Detained at decision
share of cases
0.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
—
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
33.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 1 appeals — too few
This judge has no asylum decisions on the merits in this period (since 2021).
Representation comparison unavailable.
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.
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).