Jonathan W. Hitesman at a glance
- Current role
- Assistant Chief Immigration Judge
- Current assignment
- 3 EOIR court assignments
- Jurisdiction
- California · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Jonathan W. Hitesman
Assistant Chief Immigration Judge · Adelanto Immigration Court
Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.
Available research
Asylum decisionsSourced, precomputed TRAC judge-report statistics
Biography and careerSource-attributed professional, judicial, and education record
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures10 sourced items · labeled by scope
SourcesOfficial and public records supporting this profile
Asylum decisions
Scope: These statistics cover completed asylum decisions in the linked TRAC reports, not every immigration-court matter. Methodology and limitations.
Current EOIR assignment: Adelanto Immigration Court; Sacramento Immigration Court; Las Vegas Immigration Court · TRAC report court history: Sacramento Immigration Court.
Latest judge-level TRAC data: FY 2021 - 2026; data covers the first 9 months of fiscal year 2026
Current court/national context: FY 2021-2026; data covers the first 9 months of fiscal year 2026 · TRAC aggregate source. Comparators above remain matched to the judge-report period.
Sacramento Immigration Court · Full · FY 2021 - 2026
FY 2021 - 2026; data covers the first 9 months of fiscal year 2026 · Report window: FY 2021 - 2026
Qualifying decisions: N=230
| Outcome | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum granted | 70 | 30.4% |
| Other relief granted | 5 | 2.2% |
| Any relief grantedAsylum + other relief | 75 | 32.6% |
| Denied | 155 | 67.4% |
Rates are calculated from the displayed counts and N=230; counts sum exactly to N.
Exact annual judge-specific asylum outcome values for FY2025 and FY2026/YTD are unavailable in the linked TRAC report; no chart pixels or rates are converted into counts. Direct TRAC judge report.
Same-period comparators
| Reference | Any relief granted | Denied | Δ any relief | Δ denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigration-court comparatorSacramento Immigration Court | 73% | 27% | -40.4 pp | +40.4 pp |
| National comparator | 37.1% | 62.9% | -4.5 pp | +4.5 pp |
Deltas are judge minus comparator in percentage points. Each comparator uses the exact report period shown above; a newer aggregate is not substituted for judge-level data.
Representation
| Representation status | Share |
|---|---|
| Represented | 64.8% |
| Unrepresented | 35.2% |
| National unrepresented context | 18.8% |
Representation shares are reported for the qualifying decisions and are separate from outcome rates. These shares are not outcome rates.
Major nationality distribution
| Nationality | Share |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 36.5% |
| Russia | 14.3% |
| El Salvador | 8.7% |
| Honduras | 7% |
| Nicaragua | 6.5% |
N=230. Major nationality categories named by TRAC for this judge's qualifying decisions; percentages are shares of the displayed denominator. TRAC also provides a national nationality context on the source report; no national distribution is substituted for the judge-level mix.
Same-court peer table/range
9 same-court judge reports in this period. Denial range: 5.8%–88.5%. Any-relief range: 11.6%–94.2%.
| Judge | N | Any relief granted | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badrinath, Vikram | 813 | 72.9% | 27.2% |
| Daw, Alison E. | 361 | 85% | 15% |
| Geisse, Loreto S. | 453 | 84.6% | 15.5% |
| Halperin, Ravit R. | 278 | 11.6% | 88.5% |
| Hunter, Denise | 548 | 82.1% | 17.9% |
Direct TRAC source: Judge Jonathan W. Hitesman FY 2021 - 2026*, Sacramento Immigration Court *data covers the first 9 months of fiscal year 2026 · source/report date 2026-08-27.
Outcome rates reflect the cases appearing before the judge. Case mix, nationality, representation, procedural posture, and other factors can materially affect observed rates. These figures are descriptive historical statistics, not a rating or prediction.
Report-court and U.S. annual outcomes
Exact aggregate fiscal-year counts
| Fiscal year | Sacramento Immigration Court cases (N) | Sacramento Immigration Court any relief | Sacramento Immigration Court denied | U.S. any relief | U.S. denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 439 | 47.6% | 52.4% | 43.9% | 56.1% |
| FY2022 | 401 | 79.3% | 20.7% | 51.1% | 48.9% |
| FY2023 | 934 | 74.2% | 25.8% | 53.0% | 47.0% |
| FY2024 | 1,842 | 82.0% | 18.0% | 51.1% | 48.9% |
| FY2025 | 1,555 | 76.1% | 23.9% | 30.7% | 69.3% |
| FY2026 | 440 | 42.0% | 58.0% | 12.9% | 87.1% |
Precomputed from exact TRAC aggregate counts; asylum granted + other relief granted = any relief granted, and outcomes sum to N. FY2026 is year-to-date through the published source cutoff. No values are interpolated. TRAC aggregate source · retrieved 2026-08-30. Methodology.
Current Immigration Court context
Courtwide statistics, not this judge's outcomes. These figures describe Adelanto Immigration Court during the current TRAC reporting period.
- New proceedings
- 5,170
- Completed / closed cases
- 5,652
- Average wait time for completed cases
- 295 days
- Backlog
- 3,168
- Average days waited so far
- 96 days
- Average days until hearing
- 122 days
- Represented among completed cases
- 36.0%N=2,036 / 5,652
- Detained among completed cases
- 99.6%N=5,630 / 5,652
View full immigration court analytics ↗
Sources
Source period: FY2026/YTD through June 2026. Exact denominators are shown as N/n where available.
TRAC source periods: Fiscal Year NTA Dated=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026 · Fiscal Year=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Represented=Represented; Fiscal Year Completed=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Custody=Detained; Fiscal Year Completed=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Hearing Attendance=Not Present at Last Hearing (Absentia Decision); Fiscal Year Completed=2026 · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026 · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Granted; Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026 · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Not Granted; Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026 · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Withdraw; Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Removal Order · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Terminate Proceedings · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Voluntary Departure · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=No NTA Filed · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Grant Relief · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Other Closure · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - not found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - not found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Withholding Only - relief not granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - relief not granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Witholding Only - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Withholding Only - relief granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Other Case Type Completed · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - relief granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - other.
TRAC filters: Fiscal Year NTA Dated=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026 · Fiscal Year=2026 · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Represented=Represented · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Custody=Detained · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Hearing Attendance=Not Present at Last Hearing (Absentia Decision) · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026 · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Granted · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Not Granted · Bond Hearing Fiscal Year=2026, Bond Hearing Outcome=Withdraw · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Removal Order · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Terminate Proceedings · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Voluntary Departure · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=No NTA Filed · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Grant Relief · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Other Closure · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - not found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - not found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Withholding Only - relief not granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - relief not granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Witholding Only - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Credible Fear - other · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - found · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Withholding Only - relief granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Other Case Type Completed · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Asylum Only - relief granted · Fiscal Year Completed=2026, Outcome (detailed)=Reasonable Fear - other.
Provenance: TRAC table_json.php exact value; no estimation. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
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Biography
TRAC-derived biography
- Education
- Judge Hitesman earned a Bachelor of Science in 1990 fromNorwich University, a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of Hawaii, and a Master of Lawsin 2004 from the Georgetown University Law Center.
- Prior employment
- Hitesman as an assistant chiefimmigration judge in June 2020.
- Bar membership
- Hawaii State Bar and the MinnesotaState Bar
These biographical facts are attributed to the direct TRAC judge report and do not replace other authoritative profile biography. Source/report date: 2026-08-27.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Filing requirements
Courtwide
For non-detained individual calendar hearings, advance filings are generally due at least 30 days before the hearing and responses are due within 10 days after the original filing; detained-case deadlines are set by the immigration judge.
For individual calendar hearings involving represented, non-detained aliens, amendments to applications for relief, additional supporting documents, updates to witness lists, and other such documents must be submitted at least thirty (30) days in advance of the individual calendar hearing.
Exhibits
Courtwide
Briefs, motions, and exhibits should use consecutive page numbers, and proposed exhibits or supporting documents should include a table of contents identifying page numbers.
All documents, including briefs, motions, and exhibits, should always be paginated by consecutive numbers placed at the bottom center or bottom right-hand corner of each page.
Witnesses
Courtwide
A witness list should identify each non-respondent witness, summarize the expected testimony, estimate its length, state the testimony language, and include a CV or resume for an expert.
A witness list should include the following information for each witness, except the respondent: the name of the witness; if applicable, the alien registration number (A number); a written summary of the testimony; the estimated length of the testimony; the language in which the witness will testify; and a curriculum vitae or resume, if called as an expert.
Interpreter Request Deadline
Courtwide
A respondent or practitioner should request an interpreter no later than 30 days before the hearing at which interpreter services will be needed.
The respondent or the respondent’s attorney / practitioner of record should request an interpreter no later than 30 days before the next hearing where the interpreter services will be needed.
Addressing The Judge
Courtwide
Address the immigration judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge,” and stand when the judge enters and exits the courtroom.
The Immigration Judge should be addressed as either “Your Honor” or “Judge __.”
Oral argument
Courtwide
Except when questioning witnesses, direct oral argument and statements to the immigration judge rather than debating the opposing party.
All oral argument and statements made during a hearing must be directed to the Immigration Judge.
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Only the immigration judge may record a hearing; practitioners of record may use silent electronic devices only for immediately relevant court business and subject to the judge’s control.
No device of any kind, including cameras, video recorders, and cassette recorders, may be used by any person other than the Immigration Judge to record any part of a hearing.
Hearings
Courtwide
At an individual calendar hearing, be prepared to make opening and closing statements, raise evidentiary objections, present witnesses and evidence, and cross-examine opposing witnesses.
While the Immigration Judge decides how each hearing is conducted, parties should be prepared to:
Courtwide
If the hearing medium is uncertain or an internet-based hearing cannot be accessed, contact the hearing immigration court; unrepresented respondents default to in-person hearings.
Respondents who do not have a representative of record will always have a default hearing medium of in-person, regardless of the indication below.
Remote appearances
Courtwide
Photographing or recording any part of an internet-based immigration hearing is prohibited and may result in penalties.
Photographing or recording through the internet to capture any part of the hearing is strictly prohibited and subject to possible penalties.
Sources
DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 19, 2026
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