# Joseph Leonard Immigration Judge · [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court) ## Joseph Leonard at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court) Current assignment [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court) Jurisdiction Texas · Federal Judicial service Active ## Hearings & court access EOIR publishes the following court assignment and hearing-access information for this judge. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. ### [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court) Assigned court [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court) Webex / internet [Join EOIR Webex ↗](https://eoir.webex.com/meet/IJ.Leonard) Telephone access 199 629 5723 EOIR lists Internet-based hearing links and telephonic access codes in its current hearing directory. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. Unrepresented respondents generally appear in person unless EOIR directs otherwise. [EOIR hearing directory ↗](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings) · verified August 18, 2026 Historical EOIR data ## Outcomes at a glance Total outcomes 9,623 Relief granted 160 1.7% Denied / removal ordered 6,657 69.2% Other / procedural 2,806 29.2% National comparison for this selection: 9,249,024 outcomes; 10.0% relief granted; 52.0% denied / removal ordered; 38.0% other / procedural. Methodology and sources These are proceeding outcomes, not asylum application statistics. Completion years use EOIR COMP_DATE; 2026 contains partial-year data. Relief granted, denied / removal ordered and other / procedural exhaust the recorded outcomes. Groups of one are included. Historical outcomes do not establish a current assignment. Counts describe recorded cases and do not predict an individual's result. [Official EOIR case data](https://fileshare.eoir.justice.gov/EOIR%20Case%20Data.zip) · Source date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:14:27 GMT Asylum decisions and other statistics ## Analytics Published EOIR records include 554 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 103 (18.6%) and denied in 419 (75.6%); 32 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics) ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed: October 2018 by Attorney General Jeff Sessions - Professional background: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas (2008–2018) Assistant District Attorney, Hidalgo County (2005–2008) Private practice attorney (2005) Assistant County Attorney, Williamson County (2003–2005) Associate, Fitzbaugh & Elliott, P.C., Houston (2002–2003) ### Education - B.A., Texas A&M University (1999) J.D., University of Texas School of Law (2002) ### Additional information - State Bar of Texas - Representation: 68% of respondents represented by counsel (national average 81%) ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked October 10, 2026 . ### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 19, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.1 - Delivery and Receipt Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.3 - Documents ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10 - Interpreters ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11 - Courtroom Decorum ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.12 - Electronic Devices ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.15 - Individual Calendar Hearing ### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings ### Current EOIR official staff directory Current EOIR Official Staff Directory source · HTML · Source checked October 7, 2026 [Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections) ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.1 — Delivery and Receipt](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c9195b4f0bba01a19aa8df41) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-1). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 3.11 — Courtroom Decorum](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8d8e8e8bf80478864645291a) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-3-11). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.3 — Documents](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-53ee093be24c18a5d1a93046) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-3). Collected 2026-10-27.