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 Richard Cato earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor in 1986 from Florida State University College of Law. Before his appointment, he served as a hearing officer and administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Appeals Division (2008-2022) and held several positions with the Florida Department of Children and Families, including chief legal counsel for Polk County (2001-2008). He earlier worked in private practice and legal services in the Orlando area and is a member of the Florida Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,412
Completions per year
8,470 total
5.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
21.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
20.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
3.7%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
16%
Appeals remanded or reversed
75 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
26.7%
439 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
5.2%
499 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
15.4%⚠
13 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
64.7%⚠
17 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
98.9%
89 decisions Moderate
26.7%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 439 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
26.7%
This court
22.4%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 49% 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 · 383 decisions since 2021
28.2%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 56 decisions since 2021
16.1%
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).