James M. Left
Immigration Judge, Los Angeles-North Los Angeles St. Immigration Court. Appointed June 2016 by Loretta E. Lynch.
Asylum record, FY 2021-2026
TRAC source →- Decisions on the merits
- 1,673
- Asylum granted
- 363
- Other relief granted
- 91
- Denied
- 1,219
- Against own court
- +7.5 pts
| FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89% | 81% | 41% | 77% | 71% |
Docket
Respondents represented by counsel: 79% (nationally, 81% are represented).
Most common nationalities: Guatemala (19.2%), China (17.6%), Colombia (12.8%), El Salvador (12.1%), Mexico (8.4%).
Official biography
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed James M. Left to begin hearing cases in June 2016. Judge Left ear ned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from Pacific Lutheran University and a Juris Doctor in 1994 from the Pepperdine University School of Law. From 2013 to May 2016, and previously from 2008 through 2009, Judge Left served as a senior attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). From 2009 through 2013, and previously from 2007 through 2008, Judge Left served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, in Los Angeles. From 2004 through 2007, Judge Left served as an assistant chief counsel for ICE, DHS. From 2002 through 2004, Judge Left served as an associate legal advisor for the National Security Law Division, ICE, DHS. From 1997 through 2002, Judge Left served as an assistant district counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice. Judge Left is a member of the State Bar of California.
In the record
No published reporting or appellate decisions naming this judge have been collected yet.
Other judges at Los Angeles - North
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.