New York · est. 2013Friday, September 4, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Immigration judges

David Robertson

Immigration Judge, Boston Immigration Court. Appointed April 2021.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Robertson91.6%
Boston court52.6%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
131
Asylum granted
7
Other relief granted
4
Denied
120
Against own court
+39.0 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22
92%

Read from TRAC's chart to the nearest point. Years with fewer than 25 decisions are not shown.

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 98% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Brazil (32.1%), Guatemala (21.4%), El Salvador (16%), Democratic Republic of Congo (4.6%), Ecuador (4.6%).

Official biography

David H. Robertson was appointed as a Unit Chief Immigration Judge to begin supervisory immigration adjudication center duties and hearing cases in April 2021. Judge Robertson earneda Bachelor of Science in 1986 from James Madison University, a Juris Doctor in 1989 from the University of Richmond School of Law, and a Master of Laws in 1999 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 1990 to 2020, he served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate in various locations throughout the U.S. and Germany. During that time, from 2010 to2020, he served as a Military Judge in the following locations: Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg,North Carolina; Kaiserslautern, Germany; and Fort Stewart, Georgia. While serving as a Military Judge, he also presided over trials in Kuwait and Afghanistan. From 2004 to 2006, he served as a Regional Defense Counsel; from 1999 to 2001, as a Senior Defense Counsel; from 1995 to Communications and Legislative Affairs Division1997, as a Prosecutor; and from 1993 to 1995, as a Defense Counsel. From 1995 to 1996, hedeployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and from 2007 to 2008, he deployed to Kosovo. In 2020, here tired in the rank of Colonel. Judge Robertson is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

As published by the Executive Office for Immigration Review at appointment, via TRAC.

In the record

No published reporting or appellate decisions naming this judge have been collected yet.

Other judges at Boston

Court page →

About these figures. Denial rates describe outcomes in the cases a judge happened to hear, which differ by detention, nationality and representation. They are not a measure of fairness or competence. Method and sources are on the judges index.