This legislation aims to formally authorize the Attorney General to appoint temporary immigration judges to address the significant backlog of cases in immigration courts. The bill emphasizes that these temporary positions are not intended to replace permanent judges and that appointees must possess extensive knowledge of United States immigration laws. The Attorney General would be empowered to appoint individuals for renewable six-month terms, drawing from categories such as former members of the Board of Immigration Appeals , former immigration judges , and administrative law judges or Department of Justice attorneys with at least ten years of immigration law experience. These temporary judges would possess the same authority as permanent immigration judges to adjudicate cases and manage court matters, subject to robust management and training procedures. Such procedures include a minimum of eight weeks of initial training and ongoing bi-weekly training, though some experienced individuals may be exempt. Temporary judges may serve for up to four consecutive six-month terms, totaling two years, with a three-year waiting period before re-appointment after reaching the service limit.
This legislation aims to formally authorize the Attorney General to appoint temporary immigration judges to address the significant backlog of cases in immigration courts. The bill emphasizes that these temporary positions are not intended to replace permanent judges and that appointees must possess extensive knowledge of United States immigration laws. The Attorney General would be empowered to appoint individuals for renewable six-month terms, drawing from categories such as former members of the Board of Immigration Appeals , former immigration judges , and administrative law judges or Department of Justice attorneys with at least ten years of immigration law experience. These temporary judges would possess the same authority as permanent immigration judges to adjudicate cases and manage court matters, subject to robust management and training procedures. Such procedures include a minimum of eight weeks of initial training and ongoing bi-weekly training, though some experienced individuals may be exempt. Temporary judges may serve for up to four consecutive six-month terms, totaling two years, with a three-year waiting period before re-appointment after reaching the service limit.