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 Scott Thomsen earned a Bachelor of Science in 1988 and a Juris Doctor in 1991 from Brigham Young University. From 1995 to 2020, he served as the associate circuit judge for Bollinger County, Missouri. From 1992 to 1994, he was an assistant public defender for the 32nd and 33rd Judicial Circuits of Missouri, in Jackson. He is a member of the Missouri, Nevada, and Utah State Bars.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,296
Completions per year
7,779 total
2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
30.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
22.7%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
9.9%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
22%
Appeals remanded or reversed
41 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.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
2 bond decisions Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 0% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
48.2%
1,302 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
5.9%
1,145 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
58.8%
85 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
72.7%⚠
11 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
93.4%
136 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
100%
102 decisions Moderate
48.2%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 1,302 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
48.2%
This court
57.3%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 21% 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 · 1,245 decisions since 2021
49.6%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 57 decisions since 2021
17.5%
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).