Judge Leo A. Finston

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Finston, Leo A. (IJ code LAF, Newark, NJ):

Overall track record

32 years on the bench (since 1995), 8,579 cases total, lifetime grant rate 19.1%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,029 cases, grant rate 23.4% — 11.8pp above the Newark court average (11.6%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Guatemala              488    8.9%
Ecuador                291   24.2%
Honduras               253   16.7%
Cuba                   249   37.5%
Brazil                 189   12.6%
Mexico                 174   37.0%
Peru                   155   13.9%
Colombia               154   11.8%
El Salvador            154   21.3%
Dominican Republic     113   12.3%
Venezuela               99   29.4%

Cuba applicants see a 37.5% grant rate versus 8.9% for Guatemala applicants — a 4.2× gap on this judge's docket.

Year-by-year

2023:  693 cases, 39.3% grant rate
2024:  778 cases, 26.0% grant rate
2025:  829 cases, 22.5% grant rate
2026:  729 cases, 8.2% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Finston, 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, May 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.