A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Finston, Leo A. (IJ code LAF, Newark, NJ):
Overall track record
32 years on the bench (since 1995), 8,579 cases total, lifetime grant rate 19.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,029 cases, grant rate 23.4% — 11.8pp above the Newark court average (11.6%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Guatemala 488 8.9% Ecuador 291 24.2% Honduras 253 16.7% Cuba 249 37.5% Brazil 189 12.6% Mexico 174 37.0% Peru 155 13.9% Colombia 154 11.8% El Salvador 154 21.3% Dominican Republic 113 12.3% Venezuela 99 29.4%
Cuba applicants see a 37.5% grant rate versus 8.9% for Guatemala applicants — a 4.2× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 693 cases, 39.3% grant rate 2024: 778 cases, 26.0% grant rate 2025: 829 cases, 22.5% grant rate 2026: 729 cases, 8.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Finston, 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.