# William Richards William L. Richards III was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in July 2026. Judge Richards earned a Bachelor of Science in 2011 and a Master of Business Administration in 2012 from Sacred Heart University, and a Juris Doctor in 2015 from New York Law School. From March 2026 to June 2026, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. From March 2020 to March 2026, he served as a senior assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, New York. From August 2016 to March 2020, he served as an assistant district attorney for the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in New York. From August 2015 to July 2016, he served as an attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group in New York. Judge Richards serves as a defense counsel in the judge advocate general corps for the U.S. Army Reserve and holds the rank of captain. Judge Richards is a member of the New York State Bar. Immigration Judge · [New York - Varick Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ny/new-york-varick-immigration-court) ## William Richards at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [New York - Varick Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ny/new-york-varick-immigration-court) Current assignment [New York - Varick Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ny/new-york-varick-immigration-court) Jurisdiction New York · Federal Judicial service Active Historical EOIR data ## Outcomes at a glance Total outcomes 26 Relief granted 0 0.0% Denied / removal ordered 23 88.5% Other / procedural 3 11.5% 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 ## Biography ### Professional career - special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota (March 2026–June 2026) - senior assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, New York (March 2020–March 2026) - assistant district attorney for the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in New York (August 2016–March 2020) - Defense counsel in the judge advocate general corps for the U.S. Army Reserve and holds the rank of captain ### Education - New York Law School — J.D. (2015) ### Additional information - William L. Richards III was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in July 2026. - attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group in New York (August 2015–July 2016) - William J. Richards is a former judge of Michigan’s 46th District Court, serving parts of Oakland County including Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Franklin Village, Bingham Farms, and Southfield Township - Judge Richards is a member of the New York State Bar. - Richards has been a member of First Congregational Church in Royal Oak for over 20 years ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked September 15, 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 ### EOIR Announces Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judge, Administrative Law Judge, 37 Immigration Judges and 4 Temporary Immigration Judges Identity source · PDF · Source checked September 15, 2026 [Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)