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

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

Immigration judges

George J. Ward Jr.

Immigration Judge, Charlotte Immigration Court. Appointed August 2018 by Jeff Sessions.

StrictDenies far more often than the national average+29.0 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Jr.91.9%
Charlotte court86.7%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
394
Asylum granted
31
Other relief granted
1
Denied
362
Against own court
+5.2 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY25FY26
91%92%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 97% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Honduras (22.8%), Mexico (16.5%), Venezuela (14%), Brazil (12.2%), Colombia (10.9%).

Official biography

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed George J. Ward Jr. to begin hearing cases in August 2018. Judge Ward ear ned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from Bucknell University and a Juris Doctor in 1993 from St. John's University School of Law. From 1999 to 2018, he served in several positions with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in both Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C. From 2012 to 2018, he was deputy chief in the Office of Chief Counsel, ICE,DHS. From 2011 to 2012, he was deputy chief and then chief with the District Court Litigation Division. From 2010 to 2011, he was chief with the District Court Litigation Section. From 2007to 2010, he was legislative counsel. From 2003 to 2007, he was an associate legal advisor. From1999 to 2003, he was an assistant district counsel with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice in New York, N.Y. From 1993 to 1999, he was an assistant district attorney with the Nassau County District Attorney's Office in Mineola, N.Y.Judge Ward is a member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars.

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 Charlotte

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.