Executive Office for Immigration Review Swears in Two Immigration Judges

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of two immigration judges. Acting Chief Immigration Judge Print Maggard presided over the investiture during a ceremony held Nov. 6, 2015, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington D.C.

After a thorough application process, then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. appointed Daniel J. Daugherty to his new position, and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Jonathan S. Simpson to his new position.

“We are committed to an effective and efficient immigration court process and we are happy that Congress has given us the funding to hire additional immigration judges, as well as the support staff they need,” said Maggard. “These new immigration judges, along with their 19 colleagues who were invested in June, strengthen our immigration judge corps and will help our agency work towards decreasing our current backlog of more than 450,000 pending cases.”

Daniel J. Daugherty, Immigration Judge, Las Vegas Immigration Court

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. appointed Judge Daugherty to begin hearing cases in November 2015. Judge Daugherty received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 from Defiance College and a Juris Doctor in 1987 from the University of Toledo, College of Law. From 2008 through 2015 and 2002 through 2005, Judge Daugherty was a member of the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, serving in capacities including chief trial judge and circuit judge. Prior to 2008, and when not serving as a member of the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Judge Daugherty served in the Marine Corps in various capacities including deputy staff judge advocate, chief trial counsel (prosecution), prosecutor, senior defense counsel, defense counsel, and special assistant U.S. attorney. Judge Daugherty also has provided legal services in a number of other positions within the Marine Corps and has served as an assistant county prosecutor. Judge Daugherty is a member of the Ohio Bar.

Jonathan S. Simpson, Immigration Judge, San Francisco Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Simpson to begin hearing cases in November 2015. Judge Simpson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Wabash College and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from Seton Hall University. From 2006 through September 2015, Judge Simpson served as assistant chief counsel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif. From 1997 through 2006, both domestically and abroad, Judge Simpson served in various capacities as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, including branch chief, officer in charge, and attorney. Judge Simpson is a member of the New Jersey Bar.

- EOIR -

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR's immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR's Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.