EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / Matthew S. Johnson
Judge Matthew S. Johnson
Annandale Immigration Court · Annandale, Virginia · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
Annandale Immigration Court in Annandale, Virginia is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with Virginia. 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 Matthew S. Johnson was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in April 2026. Judge Johnson earned a Bachelor of History in 2008 from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Juris Doctor in 2020 from the University of Virginia School of Law. From July 2023 to December 2025, he was a litigation associate at Fish & Richardson PC in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. From January 2021 to June 2023, he was an associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP. From March 2016 to January 2021, he served as a surface warfare officer reservist in the U.S. Navy. From May 2008 to February 2016, he served as a nuclear surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. Since January 2021 he has served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Judge Johnson is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Virginia 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.