The Honorable Immigration Judge Stephen W. Harrell was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in July 2026. Judge Harrell earned a Bachelor of Science in 2012 from Illinois State University and a Juris Doctorate in 2017 from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. From December 2020 to July 2026, he served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army, holding assignments as a special trial counsel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; as a military defense counsel at Fort Stewart, Georgia; and as a brigade judge advocate with the Illinois Army National Guard. He is currently serving as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve and holds the rank of captain. From August 2020 to February 2022, he served as a felony assistant state’s attorney at the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office in Bloomington, Illinois. From May 2018 to July 2020, he served as a misdemeanor assistant state’s attorney at the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office in Sycamore, Illinois. Judge Harrell is a member of the Illinois State Bar.