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Press Release

Executive Office for Immigration Review Swears in 11 Immigration Judges

For Immediate Release
Executive Office for Immigration Review

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of 11 new immigration judges, bringing the agency’s total to 326. Deputy Chief Immigration Judge Print Maggard presided over the investiture during a ceremony held this afternoon at EOIR headquarters in Falls Church, Va.

After a thorough application process, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Olga Attia, David Cheng, Scott D. Criss, Christopher M. Greer, Catherine E. Halliday-Roberts, Elizabeth G. Lang, Eric W. Marsteller, Jennifer L. Page-Lozano, Helaine R. Perlman, Frank T. Pimentel, and Michael S. Pleters to their new positions.

“We are excited to welcome these individuals to the immigration judge corps, and their arrival will significantly increase our adjudicatory capacity in immigration courts as we work to address a backlog of pending cases,” said Acting Director James McHenry. “The continued hiring of new immigration judges as quickly as possible is an important component of EOIR’s multi-step effort to address the backlog, which also includes maximizing the use and effectiveness of our current adjudicatory capacity, upgrading our technology to process cases more efficiently, and reviewing internal practices and procedures in order to identify ways in which we can enhance immigration judge productivity without compromising due process.”

Biographical information follows.

Olga Attia, Immigration Judge, Otay Mesa Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Olga Attia to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Attia earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 from the California State University at Long Beach and a Juris Doctor in 1996 from the University of San Diego School of Law. From 2003 to 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in San Diego, Calif. From 1997 to 2003, she served as an assistant district counsel for the Office of District Counsel, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice, also in San Diego. From 1996 to 1997, she served as a judicial law clerk at the San Diego, El Centro, and Hawaii immigration courts, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge Attia is a member of the California State Bar.

David Cheng, Immigration Judge, Newark Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed David Cheng to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Cheng earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 from the State University of New York at Albany and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from St. John’s University School of Law. From 2002 to 2017, he served as a senior attorney for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Newark, N.J. From 2000 to 2002, he served as an administrative law judge for the New York City Department of Finance. From 1997 to 2000, he was a general partner at Cheng and Cheng P.C., in New York, N.Y. Judge Cheng is a member of the New York State Bar.

Scott D. Criss, Immigration Judge, Atlanta Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Scott D. Criss to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Criss earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002 from the California State University at Long Beach and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from The John Marshall Law School. From 2008 to 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Charlotte, N.C. From 2006 to 2008, he served as an assistant state’s attorney for the Criminal Traffic Division, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, in Chicago, Ill. From 2004 to 2005, he served as an assistant state’s attorney for the Criminal Appellate Division, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Judge Criss is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Christopher M. Greer, Immigration Judge, Salt Lake City Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Christopher M. Greer to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Greer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989 and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of Utah, and a Master of Laws in 2003 from The Army Judge Advocate General’s School. From 2015 to 2017, he served as deputy chief trial judge at the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary in Washington, D.C. From 2013 to 2015, and 2006 to 2008, he served as a trial judge at the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Eastern Judicial Circuit at Camp Lejeune, N.C. From 2008 to 2013, he served as a senior legal advisor in Quantico, Va. and Cherry Point, N.C. From 2003 to 2006, he served as an operational law attorney in North Carolina, deploying to both Afghanistan and Iraq. From 1999 to 2002, he served as an attorney advisor and supervisory defense counsel in Naples, Italy. From 1996 to 1999, he served as defense counsel and senior prosecutor in Twentynine Palms, Calif. From 1993 to 1996, he served as a legal assistance attorney and prosecutor in Okinawa, Japan. Judge Greer is a member of the Utah State Bar.

Catherine E. Halliday-Roberts, Immigration Judge, Otay Mesa Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Catherine E. Halliday-Roberts to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Halliday-Roberts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998 from the University of Dayton and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from the Valparaiso University School of Law. From 2008 to 2017, she served as a deputy chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in San Diego, Calif. From 2003 to 2008, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS, in Los Angeles and Lancaster, Calif. From 2002 to 2003, she served as an assistant district counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Since 2002, she has been an associate professor at Santa Monica College. Judge Halliday-Roberts is a member of the California State Bar.

Elizabeth G. Lang, Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Elizabeth G. Lang to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Lang earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998 from Grinnell College and a Master of Arts degree and Juris Doctor in 2004 from the University of Virginia. From 2008 to 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Orlando, Fla. From 2013 to 2014, she served as an associate legal advisor for ICE, DHS, also in Orlando. From 2006 to 2008, she served as an assistant county attorney for the Stafford County Attorney’s Office, in Stafford, Va. From 2004 to 2006, she served as a law clerk at the Alexandria Circuit Court, in Alexandria, Va. Judge Lang is a member of the Florida and Virginia State Bars.

Eric W. Marsteller, Immigration Judge, New Orleans Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Eric W. Marsteller to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Marsteller earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor in 2004 from The George Washington University Law School. From 2012 to 2017, he served as a senior litigation counsel for the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL), Civil Division, Department of Justice. From 2004 to 2012, he served as a trial attorney for OIL, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge Marsteller is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Jennifer L. Page-Lozano, Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Jennifer L. Page-Lozano to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Page-Lozano earned a Master of Public Health degree in 2003 from the University of South Florida and a Juris Doctor in 2006 from the Stetson University School of Law. From 2015 to 2017, she served as an attorney advisor for the Board of Immigration Appeals, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice. From 2009 to 2015, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Orlando, Fla. From 2006 to 2009, she was an attorney at Page-Lozano, P.A., in Tampa, Fla. Judge Page-Lozano is a member of the Florida and Minnesota State Bars.

Helaine R. Perlman, Immigration Judge, Arlington Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Helaine R. Perlman to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Perlman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997 from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from New York University School of Law. From 2016 to 2017, she served as deputy general counsel for the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2013 to 2016, she served as senior counsel for immigration for OGC, EOIR, DOJ. From 2011 to 2013, she served as associate general counsel for OGC, EOIR, DOJ. From 2002 to 2011, she was an associate attorney at Hogan Lovells LLP, in Washington, D.C. Judge Perlman is a member of the District of Columbia and the Maryland State Bars.

Frank T. Pimentel, Immigration Judge, Port Isabel Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Frank T. Pimentel to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Pimentel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 and a Juris Doctor in 1994 from the University of Notre Dame. From 2012 to 2017, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York in Buffalo, N.Y. From 2009 to 2012, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, in Laredo, Texas. From 2004 to 2009, he was a senior associate attorney at Mintz Levin Cohn Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. in Washington, D.C. From 1999 to 2004, he was an associate attorney at Reed Smith LLP, in Falls Church, Va. From 1995 to 1999, he served as an assistant public defender for the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, N.Y. From 1994 to 1995, he clerked for the Honorable David G. Larimer, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. From 1987 to 1990, he served as a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Turkey. Judge Pimentel is a member of the New York State Bar.

Michael S. Pleters, Immigration Judge, El Paso Service Processing Center

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Michael S. Pleters to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Pleters earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. From 1999 to 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, in El Paso, Texas. From 2011 to 2014, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. From 1994 to 1999, he served as an assistant district attorney for the Office of the District Attorney, 34th Judicial District, also in El Paso. From 1992 to 1994, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Harry Lee Hudspeth, Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Western District of Texas. Judge Pleters is a member of the Texas and New York State Bars.

Updated June 16, 2017