# New Immigration Judges at the Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Adelanto Immigration Courts (October 2025 to September 2026)

> EOIR named 16 judges to the Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Adelanto immigration courts since October 2025. Who they are and what to check.

- Source: https://carlosmaury.law/news/new-immigration-judges-van-nuys-west-la-santa-ana-adelanto-2026
- Author: Carlos Maury Law
- Published: 2026-09-24
- Updated: 2026-09-28
- Topics: new immigration judges Los Angeles, Van Nuys immigration court judges, West Los Angeles immigration court judges, Santa Ana immigration court judges, Adelanto immigration court judges

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=), three of them were assigned to Southern California courts: one to the **Los Angeles – Van Nuys Boulevard Immigration Court**, one to the **Los Angeles – West Los Angeles Immigration Court** and one to the **Adelanto Immigration Court**. Counting EOIR's announcements since October 2025, **16 judges** have been named to the Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Adelanto courts.

This is general information about public EOIR announcements, not legal advice. It does not describe how any judge decides cases.

## Who joined the four courts since October 2025

The list shows each judge EOIR assigned to these courts from October 2025 to September 2026 and the month EOIR says the judge began hearing cases. Each judge's prior positions are in EOIR's announcement for that date, linked in the list.

- **Jonathan M. Brent**, Van Nuys Boulevard: began hearing cases in March 2026; announced [Mar. 11, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1430876/dl?inline=).
- **Marvin E. Richards** (temporary immigration judge), Van Nuys Boulevard: began hearing cases in June 2026; announced [June 17, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1446596/dl?inline=).
- **Adam J. Jaffe**, Van Nuys Boulevard: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026.
- **Gabriel K. Bradley** (temporary immigration judge), West Los Angeles: began hearing cases in October 2025; announced [Oct. 24, 2025](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1415981/dl?inline=).
- **John T. Driscoll** (temporary immigration judge), West Los Angeles: began hearing cases in February 2026; announced [Feb. 5, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1426676/dl?inline=).
- **Diana L. Callaghan**, West Los Angeles: began hearing cases in March 2026; announced Mar. 11, 2026.
- **Robert C. O'Neil** (temporary immigration judge), West Los Angeles: began hearing cases in April 2026; announced [Apr. 8, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1435381/dl?inline=).
- **Jeannette M. Bernstein**, West Los Angeles: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026.
- **Darin W. Flagg**, Santa Ana: began hearing cases in March 2026; announced Mar. 11, 2026.
- **Terexa Fan**, Santa Ana: began hearing cases in May 2026; announced [May 21, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1441406/dl?inline=).
- **Paul Edmond Stephan**, Santa Ana: began hearing cases in May 2026; announced May 21, 2026.
- **Nicole I. Wells**, Santa Ana: began hearing cases in May 2026; announced May 21, 2026.
- **James Hong**, Santa Ana: began hearing cases in August 2026; announced [Aug. 27, 2026](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1459376/dl?inline=).
- **Brent Carr**, Adelanto: began hearing cases in May 2026; announced May 21, 2026.
- **Bledar Gora**, Adelanto: began hearing cases in August 2026; announced Aug. 27, 2026.
- **James C. Plott**, Adelanto: began hearing cases in September 2026; announced Sept. 24, 2026.

Four were announced as **temporary immigration judges**. 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: [Van Nuys Boulevard](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/los-angeles-van-nuys-boulevard-immigration-court), [West Los Angeles](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/los-angeles-west-los-angeles-immigration-court), [Santa Ana](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/santa-ana-immigration-court) and [Adelanto](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/adelanto-immigration-court).

## Where the four courts are, and whether they are open

EOIR's [operational status page](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/immigration-court-operational-status) listed all four courts as **OPEN** when this article was written (September 28, 2026):

- **Los Angeles – Van Nuys Boulevard:** 6230 Van Nuys Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Suite 300, Van Nuys, CA 91401. See our [Van Nuys Immigration Court](/van-nuys-immigration-court) page.
- **Los Angeles – West Los Angeles:** 5245 Pacific Concourse Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045. See our [West Los Angeles Immigration Court](/west-la-immigration-court) page.
- **Santa Ana:** 1241 East Dyer Road, Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92705. See our [Santa Ana Immigration Court](/santa-ana-immigration-court) page.
- **Adelanto:** Adelanto Detention Facility, 10250 Rancho Road, Suite 201A, Adelanto, CA 92301. See our [Adelanto Immigration Court](/adelanto-immigration-court) page.

## What this means if you have a case at one of these courts

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. Los Angeles has more than one immigration court, so check which one is on your notice.
- **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 another Los Angeles-area 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)).
- **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 one of the new judges hear 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.

### Are the temporary immigration judges still at these courts?

The announcements do not say. For who is sitting now, see each court's EOIR page linked above.

### Is the West Los Angeles court the same as the Van Nuys court?

No. EOIR lists them as separate courts with different addresses. The court named on your notice is the one that has your case.

### 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 Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, Santa Ana or Adelanto immigration court, you can discuss your situation with Carlos Maury, former U.S. Immigration Judge, at **(213) 769-0050**. Hablamos Español.

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*General legal information from Carlos Maury Law — not legal advice. https://carlosmaury.law/news/new-immigration-judges-van-nuys-west-la-santa-ana-adelanto-2026*