EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / John F. Jakubowski
Judge John F. Jakubowski
Concord Immigration Court · Concord, California · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
Concord Immigration Court in Concord, California is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with California. 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
John F. Jakubowski was appointed as an immigration judge and began hearing cases in April 2026. Judge Jakubowski earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Administration from Aquinas College in 1981, a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1985, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2000. From July 2006 to December 2022, he served as a senior supervisory attorney at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, where he advised senior Department of War leaders on immigration-related issues, including H-1B visa compliance. Judge Jakubowski served as a director of rule of law and senior legal advisor at the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense from April 2019 to May 2020 and from April 2011 to May 2012. In these roles, he advised U.S., NATO, Department of Justice, and Afghan officials on corruption, administrative due process, and military justice matters, and evaluated evidence and credibility issues in support of Special Immigrant Visa applications. From July 2005 to June 2006, he served as chief counsel and director of small business at the Defense Microelectronics Activity in Sacramento, California. From June 1991 to Jun 2005, he served as a senior Army attorney and legal advisor with U.S. Army’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. He served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army from June 1985 to July 2015, including active and reserve service, and retired with the rank of colonel. Judge Jakubowski is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
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.