A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Cottor, Elizabeth A (IJ code EAC, Phoenix, AZ):
Overall track record
33 years on the bench (since 1994), 4,369 cases total, lifetime grant rate 9.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,229 cases, grant rate 7.8% — roughly in line with the Phoenix court average (7.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 1574 7.6% Cuba 360 14.0% Guatemala 330 0.4% Venezuela 249 10.1% Honduras 135 0.8% Colombia 110 2.0% Nicaragua 102 1.1% El Salvador 67 9.1% Peru 41 3.3% Romania 26 25.0% Haiti 20 5.9%
Romania applicants see a 25.0% grant rate versus 0.4% for Guatemala applicants — a 71.2× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 703 cases, 20.3% grant rate 2024: 627 cases, 10.4% grant rate 2025: 813 cases, 4.6% grant rate 2026: 1086 cases, 1.8% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Cottor, 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.