A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Marcus, Steven (IJ code SNM, Van Nuys, CA):
Overall track record
7 years on the bench (since 2020), 3,644 cases total, lifetime grant rate 8.6%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,392 cases, grant rate 8.4% — roughly in line with the Van Nuys court average (10.9%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 959 5.9% Peru 409 1.7% Guatemala 407 2.2% El Salvador 323 3.4% Nicaragua 282 9.1% Colombia 205 0.5% Russia 190 35.4% Honduras 146 5.3% Armenia 118 28.0% Venezuela 61 3.9% India 52 31.0%
Russia applicants see a 35.4% grant rate versus 0.5% for Colombia applicants — a 64.4× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 559 cases, 10.2% grant rate 2024: 674 cases, 9.7% grant rate 2025: 1226 cases, 9.6% grant rate 2026: 933 cases, 4.5% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Marcus, 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.