Executive Office for Immigration Review Swears in Seven Immigration Judges

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of seven new immigration judges. Chief Immigration Judge MaryBeth Keller presided over the investiture during a ceremony held May 5, 2017, at EOIR headquarters in Falls Church, Va.

After a thorough application process, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Nina M. Carbone, Jennifer I. Gaz, Charlotte S. Marquez, Jose L. Peñalosa Jr., Donald W. Thompson, David C. Whipple, and Ryan R. Wood to their new positions.

Biographical information follows.

Nina M. Carbone, Immigration Judge, Aurora Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Nina M. Carbone to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Carbone earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005 from the University of Kansas and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the John Marshall Law School. From 2015 to 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Denver, Colo. From 2012 to 2015, she was an associate general counsel at the Employee Labor Relations Unit, Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2010 to 2012, she served as an attorney advisor in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, EOIR, DOJ. From 2008 to 2010, she served as a judicial law clerk at the Miami Immigration Court, EOIR, DOJ, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge Carbone is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Jennifer I. Gaz, Immigration Judge, Eloy Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Jennifer I. Gaz to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Gaz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994 from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the DePaul University College of Law. From May 2007 through April 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Eloy and Phoenix, Ariz. From November 2003 to April 2007, she was an associate attorney with Wolin, Kelter & Rosen Ltd. From October 2000 to October 2003, she served as staff counsel with the Office of the General Counsel, Chicago Housing Authority. From 1999 to 2000, she was an associate attorney with Fraterrigo, Beranek, Feiereisel & Kasbohm in Chicago. From 1997 to 1999, she was an associate attorney with Eannace, Meade & Associates. Judge Gaz is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Charlotte S. Marquez, Immigration Judge, New Orleans Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Charlotte S. Marquez to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Marquez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1995 from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from Tulane Law School. From March 2006 to April 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in New Orleans, La. From June 2000 through March 2006, she was an associate attorney with Jones Walker LLP. From August 1998 to June 2000 she was an associate attorney with McCalla, Thompson, Pyburn, Hymowitz & Shapiro LLP. Judge Marquez is a member of the Louisiana State Bar.

José Luis Peñalosa Jr., Immigration Judge, Adelanto Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed José Luis Peñalosa Jr. to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Peñalosa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Juris Doctor in 1989 from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. From May 1993 to April 2017, he was a solo practitioner at Peñalosa & Associates P.C. From May 1991 to May 1993, he was an attorney with Friendly House Inc. in Phoenix. Judge Peñalosa is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the Colorado Bar.

Donald W. Thompson, Immigration Judge, New York City Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Donald W. Thompson to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003 from the College of New Jersey and a Juris Doctor in 2006 from the Seton Hall University School of Law. From September 2007 to April 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in San Francisco and New York, N.Y. From 2006 to 2007, he clerked for the Honorable Estela De La Cruz of the New Jersey Superior Court. Judge Thompson is a member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars.

David C. Whipple, Immigration Judge, Cleveland Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed David C. Whipple to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Whipple earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 and a Master of Arts in 1995 from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from the University of Idaho College of Law. From March 2016 to April 2017, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Department of Justice. From October 2009 through April 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Eloy and Florence, Ariz. From May 2007 to October 2009, he served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Office of the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney in Idaho. Judge Whipple is a member of the Idaho State Bar.

Ryan R. Wood, Immigration Judge, Bloomington Immigration Court

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Ryan R. Wood to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Wood earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 from Hamline University, a Juris Doctor in 2004 from the Hamline University School of Law, and a Master of Business Administration in 2015 from the Hamline University School of Business. From November 2014 to April 2017, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, Department of Justice. From October 2009 through November 2014, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Fort Snelling, Minn. From January 2005 to October 2009, he was a judge advocate with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, serving in the 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions. Judge Wood is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.