A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Crites, Elizabeth (IJ code EHC, Chicago, IL):
Overall track record
10 years on the bench (since 2017), 5,278 cases total, lifetime grant rate 11.8%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 4,956 cases, grant rate 10.2% — roughly in line with the Chicago court average (12.4%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Guatemala 1513 0.5% Honduras 934 6.1% Nicaragua 613 8.4% Mexico 481 7.6% Venezuela 374 28.0% Colombia 205 14.3% Ecuador 169 3.5% El Salvador 169 14.1% India 53 5.0% Russia 48 59.1% Cuba 34 25.0%
Russia applicants see a 59.1% grant rate versus 0.5% for Guatemala applicants — a 113.3× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 739 cases, 23.6% grant rate 2024: 803 cases, 16.1% grant rate 2025: 1586 cases, 10.7% grant rate 2026: 1828 cases, 1.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Crites, 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.