A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Scott, Joseph C. (IJ code JHS, Philadelphia, PA):
Overall track record
22 years on the bench (since 2005), 4,887 cases total, lifetime grant rate 10.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,948 cases, grant rate 9.6% — roughly in line with the Philadelphia court average (9.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Guatemala 697 3.0% Brazil 619 1.6% Mexico 339 9.7% Dominican Republic 334 2.3% Honduras 327 6.4% Ecuador 243 2.6% Colombia 152 2.9% Venezuela 149 2.9% Nicaragua 134 3.2% Haiti 95 1.3% Turkey 95 6.7%
Mexico applicants see a 9.7% grant rate versus 1.3% for Haiti applicants — a 7.6× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 893 cases, 14.7% grant rate 2024: 857 cases, 11.8% grant rate 2025: 1323 cases, 8.4% grant rate 2026: 875 cases, 3.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Scott, 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.