ASYLUMJUDGE · IMMIGRATION JUDGE PROFILE
Leah Obrien
Otay Mesa (OTM) · Otay Mesa, CA
Leah Obrien is listed with Otay Mesa (OTM). The database records 75 asylum outcomes: 9 approved, 66 denied, and 0 other outcomes. Historical statistics are informational and cannot predict an individual case. · 2026-02-18 – 2026-06-30
Yearly changes
Yearly asylum decision trend
Fiscal yearDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 202675966012.0%
Applicant origin
Asylum decisions by fiscal year and nationality
FY 2026 · 2025-10-01 – 2026-07-01 · EOIR
NationalityDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 2026 · Cameroon2026-03-23 – 2026-06-3010370—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · China2026-02-26 – 2026-06-108080—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Mexico2026-02-20 – 2026-06-227070—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Russia2026-03-10 – 2026-06-096240—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · El Salvador2026-05-26 – 2026-06-304040—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Guatemala2026-03-20 – 2026-06-174040—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Turkey2026-04-09 – 2026-06-024130—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Venezuela2026-04-20 – 2026-05-113030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ethiopia2026-05-08 – 2026-06-153210—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Sudan2026-05-19 – 2026-06-102110—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Vietnam2026-02-18 – 2026-03-032020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Cuba2026-02-24 – 2026-04-132020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Azerbaijan2026-06-01 – 2026-06-182020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Uzbekistan2026-02-27 – 2026-03-182020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · India2026-05-18 – 2026-05-292020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Haiti2026-05-27 – 2026-05-271010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · People's Republic Of The Congo2026-05-20 – 2026-05-201010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ghana2026-06-24 – 2026-06-241010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Albania2026-05-12 – 2026-05-121010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Nepal2026-06-08 – 2026-06-081010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Jamaica2026-06-25 – 2026-06-251010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Iran2026-05-04 – 2026-05-041010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Syria2026-03-12 – 2026-03-121010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Kazakhstan2026-03-19 – 2026-03-191010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Afghanistan2026-04-27 – 2026-04-271010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Colombia2026-04-08 – 2026-04-081010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Nigeria2026-05-06 – 2026-05-061010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Gambia2026-04-17 – 2026-04-171010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Pakistan2026-03-26 – 2026-03-261010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
Official appointment record
Judge background and appointment
Official biography
Leah A. OBrien was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in February 2026. Judge OBrien earned a Bachelor of Science in 2005 from the University of Georgia, a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2020 from the George Washington University Law School. Judge OBrien has been on active duty in the U.S. Navy since 2008 and holds the rank of commander. From 2025 to January 2026, she served as the director of the Navy's Trial Counsel Assistance Program and the lead national security prosecutor. From 2023 to 2025, she served as the senior prosecutor at Region Legal Service Office, Southwest in San Diego. From 2022 to 2023, she served as the Navy's complex case prosecutor in Washington, D.C. From 2020 to 2022, she served as a managing defense counsel at the Military Commissions Defense Organization in Washington, D.C. From 2015 to 2019, she served as a professional development officer and the senior prosecutor at Region Legal Service Office, Northwest in Bremerton, Washington. From 2012 to 2015, she served as a defense counsel at Defense Service Office, West in San Diego. In 2011, she served as the staff judge advocate for Commander, Amphibious Squadron Six, deployed onboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5). From 2009 to 2011, she served as a prosecutor at Region Legal Service Office, Mid- Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. Judge OBrien is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.
Education: Judge OBrien earned a Bachelor of Science in 2005 from the University of Georgia, a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2020 from the George Washington University Law School.
Bar admission: Judge OBrien is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.
EOIR Announces 6 Immigration Judges and 27 Temporary Immigration Judges (2026-02-05) →
This page shows only verifiable official appointment and biography records. No departure record does not confirm current service; personnel changes are labeled only with reliable sources.
How to read approval rates
Decision approval rateis approved ÷ (approved + denied). Blue “Other” is shown separately and includes identifiable withholding/CAT protection, cancellation or adjustment, voluntary departure, withdrawal, termination, dismissal, and administrative closure; it is excluded from the rate denominator.Approved share of all outcomesuses approved, denied, and other outcomes in the denominator.
With small samples, a few cases can move the percentage sharply. The page flags samples below 50 and below 200 decisions.
View methodology and sources →
AsylumJudge organizes public EOIR immigration-court data and provides no legal conclusion for any individual case.
Understand immigration judge approval rates
Compare this profile with the site-wide explanation of asylum judge ratings, sample sizes, approval rates, and limitations.
Asylum judge rating & approval rate guide →