Immigration Judge Intelligence
California state courts increasingly intersect with immigration law — from Special Immigrant Juvenile findings to vacatur petitions, Penal Code 1016.3 advisements, and family court orders with immigration consequences.
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Built for immigration
Why Immigration Practitioners Love CCI
Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) finding patterns: which courts efficiently process SIJ predicate orders and what showing they require for abuse, neglect, or abandonment findings.
Vacatur motion outcomes: how judges approach Penal Code 1473.7 motions to vacate convictions based on immigration advisement failures — grant rates and evidentiary standards.
VAWA protective order coordination: how family courts handle VAWA-qualified domestic violence victims and coordinate with immigration consequences.
Judge profiles
Top Immigration Judges
Profiles from the most-researched immigration departments across California.
Judge Theresa M. Traber
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles
Judge Stephen M. Pulido
Hayward Hall of Justice, Hayward
Judge Benjamin T. Reyes, II
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez
Judge Albert A. Erkel
Judge Jeffrey Erickson
Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse, Rancho Cucamonga
Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni
Downtown Superior Court, San Jose
What CCI tracks
Key Metrics for Immigration
SIJ Predicate Order Grant Rate
How often judges grant Special Immigrant Juvenile predicate findings in dependency and family court proceedings.
e.g., SIJ findings granted in 89% of properly filed petitionsPC 1473.7 Vacatur Success Rate
Grant rates on motions to vacate criminal convictions based on failure to advise of immigration consequences.
e.g., Vacatur granted in 67% of felony conviction motionsPC 1016.3 Compliance Rate
How consistently judges enforce the statutory duty to advise of immigration consequences before accepting guilty pleas.
e.g., Full advisement given in 94% of plea proceedingsProtective Order Immigration Coordination
Whether judges make VAWA-qualifying findings in domestic violence restraining orders when requested by petitioners.
e.g., VAWA language included in 71% of applicable DVRO requestsStrategic intelligence
Immigration Strategy Guide
Practical guidance for using judge intelligence in immigration practice.
SIJ petitions require both a predicate finding from a state court and a separate USCIS petition. Know whether your family or juvenile court judge is familiar with SIJ requirements and what declarations they find persuasive.
PC 1473.7 vacatur motions succeed most often when counsel can show both the failure to advise and the defendant's affirmative desire to avoid immigration consequences. Research your judge's standards for each prong.
In criminal defense, research whether your judge issues immigration advisements as a matter of course or requires a request. The record on advisements is critical for any future vacatur motion.
Family court orders have immigration consequences in custody, support, and domestic violence proceedings. Identify whether your judge is receptive to including specific language that supports immigration relief.
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Find Immigration Judges
Showing 6 of 6 judges
Judge Theresa M. Traber
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles
Judge Stephen M. Pulido
Hayward Hall of Justice, Hayward
Judge Benjamin T. Reyes, II
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Martinez
Judge Albert A. Erkel
Judge Jeffrey Erickson
Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse, Rancho Cucamonga
Judge Sunil R. Kulkarni
Downtown Superior Court, San Jose
Judge comparison tool
Compare Immigration Judges Head-to-Head
Select 2–4 judges and get a side-by-side comparison of ruling patterns, grant rates, risk flags, and AI-generated strategic analysis — in seconds.
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Know your immigration judge
Immigration outcomes are judge-dependent. Give yourself and your clients the intelligence advantage before every hearing.
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