# New Immigration Judges at the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial Immigration Courts in 2026 > EOIR named nine judges to the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial immigration courts in 2026. Who they are, when they started, and what to check. - Source: https://carlosmaury.law/news/new-immigration-judges-san-diego-otay-mesa-imperial-2026 - Author: Carlos Maury Law - Published: 2026-09-24 - Updated: 2026-09-28 - Topics: new immigration judges San Diego, Otay Mesa immigration court judges, Imperial immigration court judges, EOIR new immigration judges September 2026, temporary immigration judge San Diego On **September 24, 2026**, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the Justice Department agency that runs the immigration courts, [announced the swearing in of 47 immigration judges and 6 temporary immigration judges](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1462446/dl?inline=). According to the [biographies EOIR published that day](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1462441/dl?inline=), four of the new judges were assigned to the **San Diego Immigration Court** and one to the **Imperial Immigration Court**. With EOIR's earlier announcements this year, that makes **nine judges** named to the three immigration courts of San Diego and Imperial counties in 2026, including one at the **Otay Mesa Immigration Court**. This is general information about public EOIR announcements, not legal advice. It does not describe how any judge decides cases. ## Who joined the three courts in 2026 The list shows each judge EOIR assigned to these courts in its 2026 announcements, the month EOIR says the judge began hearing cases, and the most recent prior position in the EOIR biography. - **Leah A. OBrien** (temporary immigration judge), San Diego: began hearing cases in February 2026; announced [Feb. 5, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1426676/dl?inline=). Prior position: director of the Navy's Trial Counsel Assistance Program (2025–January 2026). - **Eric Wang**, San Diego: began hearing cases in May 2026; announced [May 21, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1441406/dl?inline=). Prior position: administrative law judge, California State Hearings Division (2026). - **Andrea Goode**, San Diego: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026. Prior position: attorney-advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency (2024–2026). - **Natasha Howard**, San Diego: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026. Prior position: supervising deputy attorney general, California Department of Justice, San Diego (2024–2026). - **David W. Illingworth II**, San Diego: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026. Prior position: counsel, ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Oklahoma City (2025–2026). - **Kristina Reeves**, San Diego: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026. Prior position: constitutional and appellate law attorney in Phoenix (2019–2021). - **Nickolaus T. Schlegel**, Otay Mesa: began hearing cases in July 2026; announced [July 29, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1454626/dl?inline=). Prior position: counsel, ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, San Diego (2025–2026). - **Stuart J. Zander**, Imperial: began hearing cases in February 2026; announced Feb. 5, 2026. Prior position: assistant U.S. attorney, District of Arizona (2018–2026). - **William R. LaFleur II**, Imperial: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026. Prior position: assistant general counsel at a private company in Phoenix (2025–2026). Leah A. OBrien was announced as a **temporary immigration judge**. An announcement shows who EOIR appointed and when; it does not show who is sitting today. EOIR keeps the current bench on each court's page: [San Diego](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/san-diego-immigration-court), [Otay Mesa](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/otay-mesa-immigration-court) and [Imperial](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/imperial-immigration-court). ## Where the three courts are, and whether they are open EOIR's [operational status page](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/immigration-court-operational-status) listed all three courts as **OPEN** when this article was written (September 28, 2026): - **San Diego Immigration Court:** 880 Front Street, Suite 4240, San Diego, CA 92101. - **Otay Mesa Immigration Court:** 7488 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, CA 92154. - **Imperial Immigration Court:** 2409 La Brucherie Road, Imperial, CA 92251. Our pages on the [San Diego Immigration Court](/san-diego-immigration-court), the [Otay Mesa Immigration Court](/otay-mesa-immigration-court) and the [Imperial Immigration Court](/imperial-immigration-court) have hours, phone numbers and filing details for each court. ## What this means if you have a case at San Diego, Otay Mesa or Imperial A new judge at your court does not by itself change your case. Your hearing notice is still the official source for your date, time, court and judge. Practical steps: - **Check your case status.** Use EOIR's Automated Case Information portal at [acis.eoir.justice.gov](https://acis.eoir.justice.gov) or its case information phone line to confirm your next hearing and the court that has your case. - **Read every new notice.** Courts sometimes move hearings or reassign cases. Follow the date and place on your most recent notice. - **File at the right court.** Send filings to the court that has your case, not to a nearby court. - **Keep your address current.** A person in proceedings must tell the court of a new address on **Form EOIR-33** within five days of moving ([8 CFR 1003.15(d)(2)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/section-1003.15)). Notices go to the last address on file. - **Do not miss a hearing.** A person who misses a hearing can be ordered removed in absentia. Our guides to [removal proceedings](/immigration/removal-proceedings) and [deportation defense](/immigration/removal-defense) explain the stages of a case in immigration court. ## Frequently asked questions ### Will a new judge be assigned to my case? EOIR's announcements name the court each judge joined, not which cases they will hear. Check your hearing notice and the [ACIS portal](https://acis.eoir.justice.gov) for the judge and date on your case. ### Is Leah A. OBrien a permanent immigration judge? EOIR announced her as a temporary immigration judge in February 2026. For who is sitting now, see the [San Diego Immigration Court's EOIR page](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/san-diego-immigration-court). ### Are the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial immigration courts open? Yes. EOIR's operational status page listed all three as open on September 28, 2026. Check it again before you travel to court. ### Where can I find the full list of judges EOIR announced on September 24, 2026? In EOIR's [biographical information document](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1462441/dl?inline=) for that date. If you have a case at the San Diego, Otay Mesa or Imperial immigration court, you can discuss your situation with Carlos Maury, former U.S. Immigration Judge, at **(213) 769-0050**. Hablamos Español. --- *General legal information from Carlos Maury Law — not legal advice. https://carlosmaury.law/news/new-immigration-judges-san-diego-otay-mesa-imperial-2026*