A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Goodman, Cynthia (IJ code CAG, Oakdale, LA):
Overall track record
4 years on the bench (since 2023), 1,958 cases total, lifetime grant rate 7.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,958 cases, grant rate 7.9% — 3.8pp above the Oakdale court average (4.1%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 483 3.9% Guatemala 251 3.8% Honduras 242 2.0% Venezuela 127 6.7% El Salvador 90 9.2% Colombia 80 2.4% Nicaragua 78 10.4% India 64 2.0% China 61 7.3% Ecuador 60 3.2% Russia 44 39.5%
Russia applicants see a 39.5% grant rate versus 2.0% for Honduras applicants — a 20.0× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 74 cases, 7.7% grant rate 2024: 396 cases, 12.3% grant rate 2025: 618 cases, 6.9% grant rate 2026: 870 cases, 5.3% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Goodman, 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.