New York · est. 2013Thursday, September 24, 2026
Inside Immigration

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

Immigration judges

Leon J. Francis

Immigration Judge, Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court. Appointed October 2018 by Jeff Sessions.

StrictDenies more often than the national average+16.2 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Francis79.1%
Los Angeles - WLA court61.2%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
158
Asylum granted
32
Other relief granted
1
Denied
125
Against own court
+17.9 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY21FY22
79%86%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 96% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: El Salvador (32.3%), Guatemala (25.3%), China (9.5%), Mexico (9.5%), Honduras (7.6%).

Official biography

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Leon J. Francis to begin hearing cases in October 2018. Judge Francis earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from Boise State University, a Juris Doctor in 1996 from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in 2009 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 1996 to 2018, he was a judge advocate with the U.S. Marine Corps in the following locations: Kaneohe, Hawaii; Camp Pendleton, California; Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; and Yuma,Arizona. He served as a military judge for the last six years of his military career. Judge Francisis a member of the Idaho State Bar.

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

In the record

  • Executive Office for Immigration Review

    EOIR notice announcing new immigration judges

    This EOIR announcement lists Leon J. Francis as an immigration judge at the Los Angeles Immigration Court, appointed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to begin hearing cases in October 2018. The release includes a biography covering education and prior legal roles.

Other judges at Los Angeles - WLA

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.