# Kenneth Sogabe Immigration Judge · [Seattle Immigration Court](/kyj/court/wa/seattle-immigration-court) Last updated October 25, 2026 ## Kenneth Sogabe at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [Seattle Immigration Court](/kyj/court/wa/seattle-immigration-court) Jurisdiction Washington · Federal Judicial service Active Historical EOIR data ## Outcomes at a glance Total outcomes 5,767 Relief granted 430 7.5% Denied / removal ordered 3,588 62.2% Other / procedural 1,749 30.3% 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 2,120 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 266 (12.5%) and denied in 1,760 (83.0%); 94 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics) ## Biography ### Professional career - Kenneth S. Sogabe is an Immigration Judge at the Seattle Immigration Court, appointed in July 2021, with a record of denying asylum in 85.8% of cases heard between FY 2021 and the first 9 months of FY 2026 - Career before judicial service: 2018–2021: Associate General Counsel, Dept. of Defense Education Activity, Okinawa, Japan 2014–2018: Attorney Advisor, Customs and Border Protection, DHS, San Francisco 2007–2014: Staff Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2001–2006: Assistant Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - Judge Sogabe’s rate is 11.9 percentage points higher than the Seattle court average and 22.9 points above the national average ### Education - Golden Gate University School of Law — J.D. (2001) - San Francisco State University — M.A. (1996) - San Francisco State University — B.A. (1995) ### Additional information - Representation: 40% of respondents represented by counsel (national average: 81%) - Denial rates vary by judge due to case mix, detention status, and policy factors, not solely judicial philosophy - In summary: Judge Kenneth S. Sogabe is a seasoned legal professional with a long government service record, now serving as a high‐denial‐rate Immigration Judge in Seattle - State Bar of California ## Notable coverage ### [Immigration officers intensify arrests in courthouse hallways on a fast track to deportation](https://www.ksat.com/news/national/2025/06/11/immigration-officers-intensify-arrests-in-courthouse-hallways-on-a-fast-track-to-deportation/) Associated Press · June 11, 2025 · AP An AP report describes Sogabe granting the government’s request to dismiss a Venezuelan man’s case and identifies his judicial background. Applicable Court Rules & Procedures Rules last checked July 30, 2026 . ### Filing requirements 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. ### Exhibits Briefs, motions, and exhibits should use consecutive page numbers, and proposed exhibits or supporting documents should include a table of contents identifying page numbers. ### Witnesses 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. ### Interpreter Request Deadline A respondent or practitioner should request an interpreter no later than 30 days before the hearing at which interpreter services will be needed. ### Addressing The Judge Address the immigration judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge,” and stand when the judge enters and exits the courtroom. ### Oral argument Except when questioning witnesses, direct oral argument and statements to the immigration judge rather than debating the opposing party. ### Recording and broadcasting 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. ### Hearings 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. 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. ### Remote appearances Photographing or recording any part of an internet-based immigration hearing is prohibited and may result in penalties. ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked October 11, 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.