On November 5, Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler swore in 23 new immigration judges during a ceremony at the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) headquarters.
Hiring for the judges began back in December 2009 but not before the applicants went through screening on criteria such as: ability to demonstrate the appropriate temperament, knowledge of immigration laws and procedures, experience in litigation and with complex issues, as well as knowledge of judicial practices. After the panel, the mostly highly regarded candidates went through a series of interviews and the final decision was made by the Attorney General, Eric Holder.