Mark D. Donovan

Immigration Judge, Boston Immigration Court. Appointed May 2024.

LenientGrants far more often than the national average-20.5 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

Judge Donovan42.4%

Boston court52.6%

All judges nationally62.9%

Decisions on the merits: 568
Asylum granted: 295
Other relief granted: 32
Denied: 241
Against own court: -10.2 pts

Denial rate by fiscal year
FY24	FY25	FY26
41%	42%	48%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 90% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Brazil (54.4%), Angola (10.9%), Ecuador (7.7%), Colombia (6%), Guatemala (5.6%).

Official biography

Mark D. Donovan was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in May 2024. Judge Donovan ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 1992 from The Catholic University of America, a Master of Business Administration in 2001 from Northeastern University, and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from New England Law - Boston. From 2012 to 2024, he was an associate at Considine & Furey LLP in Boston, practic ing civil litigation and criminal defense. From 2008 to 2012, he was an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney's Office in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Judge Donovan is a member of the Massachusetts 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

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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.