A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Star, Shadee M. (IJ code SMS, San Francisco, CA):
Overall track record
21 years on the bench (since 2006), 3,654 cases total, lifetime grant rate 27.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,404 cases, grant rate 14.2% — 25.0pp below the San Francisco court average (39.3%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 1029 11.9% Guatemala 307 7.9% India 286 25.9% Honduras 152 4.8% El Salvador 148 15.8% Nicaragua 113 18.2% Colombia 74 0.0% Peru 44 9.5% Romania 33 0.0% China 28 68.0% Venezuela 24 13.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 382 cases, 54.9% grant rate 2024: 343 cases, 14.3% grant rate 2025: 1039 cases, 7.2% grant rate 2026: 640 cases, 1.8% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Star, 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.