# Kristopher McDonald

Immigration Judge · [Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ca/los-angeles-west-los-angeles-immigration-court)

Last updated October 25, 2026

## Kristopher McDonald at a glance

Current role

Immigration Judge

Court

[Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ca/los-angeles-west-los-angeles-immigration-court)

Jurisdiction

California · Federal

Judicial service

Active

## Immigration proceeding outcomes

No proceeding outcomes in this EOIR release are matched to this profile. Any separately published asylum statistics are available below.

Asylum decisions and other statistics

## Analytics

Published EOIR records include 1,073 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 130 (12.1%) and denied in 706 (65.8%); 237 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics)

## Biography

### Professional career

- Associate attorney, Lane & Nach PC, Phoenix, AZ (2016–2024) — represented Chapter 7 trustees in corporate/consumer bankruptcies
- Appellate attorney, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Immigration Litigation (2009–2015), including Guantanamo Bay habeas corpus litigation (2010–2011)
- Judicial law clerk, Miami Immigration Court (2008–2009) and Los Angeles Immigration Court (2007–2008)
- Kristofer R. McDonald is an immigration judge assigned to the West Los Angeles, California Immigration Court (also referred to as Los Angeles–WLA)

### Education

- California Western School of Law — J.D. (2007)
- San Diego State University — B.A. (2004)

### Additional information

- Appointed: November 2024 to begin hearing cases
- Licensed: State Bar of California

## Sources

Identity source checked August 19, 2026 .

Biography sources checked August 19, 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

### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings

Judge Specific source · HTML · Source checked September 15, 2026

### Current EOIR official staff directory

Current EOIR Official Staff Directory source · HTML · Source checked October 7, 2026

### apps.calbar.ca.gov — biography evidence

Biography evidence collected 2026-10-11

### asylumtracker.com — biography evidence

### migraprep.com — biography evidence

### tracreports.org — biography evidence

[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.