A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Panopoulos, Adam (IJ code APS, Elizabeth, NJ):
Overall track record
4 years on the bench (since 2023), 2,480 cases total, lifetime grant rate 12.4%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,466 cases, grant rate 12.4% — 3.9pp above the Elizabeth court average (8.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 447 3.9% Guatemala 338 3.4% Ecuador 302 14.8% Dominican Republic 195 4.0% Honduras 168 15.7% El Salvador 158 11.3% Brazil 126 15.6% Colombia 108 24.7% Peru 79 19.7% Venezuela 72 9.8% Uzbekistan 47 17.9%
Colombia applicants see a 24.7% grant rate versus 3.4% for Guatemala applicants — a 7.2× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 421 cases, 31.6% grant rate 2024: 680 cases, 14.3% grant rate 2025: 865 cases, 3.3% grant rate 2026: 500 cases, 0.6% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Panopoulos, I'd love to hear:
1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?
2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?
Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, July 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.