William McDermott

Immigration Judge, Philadelphia Immigration Court. Appointed April 2021.

StrictDenies more often than the national average+15.7 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

Judge McDermott78.6%

Philadelphia court58.7%

All judges nationally62.9%

Decisions on the merits: 234
Asylum granted: 31
Other relief granted: 19
Denied: 184
Against own court: +19.9 pts

Denial rate by fiscal year
FY24	FY25	FY26
75%	76%	89%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 52% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Guatemala (12.4%), Dominican Republic (11.5%), Mexico (9.8%), Honduras (6.8%), Cuba (6%).

Official biography

William H. McDermott was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in April 2021. Judge McDermott ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 2007 from Long Island University and a Juris Doctor in 2011 from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. From2019 to 2021, he served as the Deputy State's Attorney for Wicomico County, Maryland. From2011 to 2019, he served as an Assistant State's Attorney, Deputy State's Attorney, and Ad Interim State's Attorney, in Worcester County, Maryland. Judge McDermott is a member of the Maryland State 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 Philadelphia

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.