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

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

Immigration judges

Elizabeth A Cottor

Immigration Judge, Phoenix Immigration Court. Appointed March 2019 by Matthew Whitaker.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Cottor86.9%
Phoenix court85.0%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
904
Asylum granted
82
Other relief granted
36
Denied
786
Against own court
+1.9 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22FY23FY24FY25FY26
75%69%71%83%98%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 82% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Mexico (42.9%), Guatemala (14%), Venezuela (11%), Honduras (6.6%), Colombia (5.2%).

Official biography

Then-Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker appointed Elizabeth A. Cottor to begin hearing cases in March 2019. Judge Cottor ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 1992 from University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor in 1996 from the William Mitchell School of Law. From 2005 to2019, she served as a deputy county attorney (DCA) with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO), in Phoenix. From 2003 to 2005, she was an attorney with Ryley, Carlock &Applewhite P.A., in Phoenix. From 2000 to 2003, she was an attorney with Burch & Cracchiolo P.A., in Phoenix. In 2003, she was an adjunct professor with the Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. From 1998 to 2000, she served as a DCA with MCAO. From 1996 to 1998, she serve das an attorney with the Securities Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission in Phoenix. Judge Cottor is a member of the State Bar of Arizona.

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 Phoenix

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.