A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Cato, Richard (IJ code RDC, Orlando, FL):
Overall track record
12 years on the bench (since 2015), 3,189 cases total, lifetime grant rate 7.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,146 cases, grant rate 7.2% — roughly in line with the Orlando court average (5.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Cuba 1121 16.7% Honduras 296 1.9% Brazil 278 11.0% Venezuela 265 3.0% Guatemala 256 2.3% Colombia 177 14.6% Mexico 173 2.1% Haiti 147 0.0% Nicaragua 108 0.0% Dominican Republic 40 22.9% Ecuador 36 29.6%
Year-by-year
2023: 466 cases, 19.1% grant rate 2024: 493 cases, 7.6% grant rate 2025: 1383 cases, 4.8% grant rate 2026: 804 cases, 2.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Cato, 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.