Judge David C. Whipple

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Whipple, David C. (IJ code DCW, Cleveland, OH):

Overall track record

22 years on the bench (since 2005), 6,187 cases total, lifetime grant rate 4.3%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,216 cases, grant rate 2.5% — roughly in line with the Cleveland court average (2.9%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Guatemala              519    0.6%
Mexico                 472    1.4%
Venezuela              361    3.1%
Honduras               356    0.4%
Nicaragua              294    0.4%
Colombia               182    0.0%
El Salvador            131    1.3%
Haiti                  123    0.0%
Brazil                  83    0.0%
Mauritania              70    1.5%
Ecuador                 61    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023:  899 cases, 4.0% grant rate
2024:  605 cases, 2.1% grant rate
2025:  843 cases, 3.0% grant rate
2026:  869 cases, 1.1% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Whipple, 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.