EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / Christopher J. Stephens
Judge Christopher J. Stephens
New York - Broadway Immigration Court · New York - Broadway, New York · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
New York - Broadway Immigration Court in New York - Broadway, New York is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with New York. EOIR venue and transfer rules determine where an individual case is heard, so respondents should follow the location on their latest notice.
Immigration Judge Role and Case Types
Immigration judges are trial-level adjudicators who preside over removal proceedings. They decide whether a respondent is removable and consider applications for relief such as asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and cancellation of removal. They also hear bond matters when the court has jurisdiction. EOIR does not publish individual immigration judge decision statistics in the same way the Social Security Administration publishes Administrative Law Judge disposition statistics.
Professional Role
Immigration Court Christopher J. Stephens was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in April 2026. Judge Stephens earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 from Yale University, a Master of Philosophy in 1991 from the University of Oxford, and a Juris Doctor in 1996 from Georgetown University Law Center. From September 2022 to March 2026, he served as a hearing officer at the New York City Housing Authority. From December 2018 to March 2020, he served as hearing officer at Metro-North Railroad in New York. From March 2016 to December 2018, he served as a workers compensation judge at the New York State Workers Compensation Board in New York. From February 2015 to December 2015, he served as lead hearing officer at Amtrak in New York. From June 2003 to April 2013, he served as an administrative law judge at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. From August 1997 to June 1998, he was an associate at Becker, Glynn, Melamed and Muffly in New York. Judge Stephens is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the New York State Bar.
Immigration judges are attorneys appointed by the Attorney General. EOIR's published qualifications call for at least seven years of post-bar-admission legal experience. Judges serve as trial-level adjudicators in the immigration court system; they are not attorneys for either side.
Immigration Process and Respondent Resources
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, court procedures, and enforcement policies can change. Deadlines and options depend on your case and the notices you received. Talk with a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your situation.