U.S. Department of Justice

Executive Office for Immigration Review

Office of the Director

5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2400

Falls Church, Virginia 22041

NEWS RELEASE Contact: Public Affairs, (703)305-0289 or (703) 305-1188

Fax: (703) 605-0365 or (703) 305-0985

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April 15, 1998

INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR NEW MEMBERS OF

THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno was the keynote speaker at an investiture ceremony today for three new Members to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Appointment of new Members, Philemina M. Jones, Edward R. Grant, and Lori Scialabba, completes the 15-Member Board. The investiture was held in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice at 10:00 a.m.

The Board of Immigration Appeals is part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) located in Falls Church, Virginia. The Board comprises 15 Members, headed by Chairman Paul W. Schmidt, and is responsible for hearing appeals of decisions rendered by Immigration Judges or certain officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It is the highest administrative body for interpreting Federal immigration laws.

Philemina M. Jones was appointed to the Board in October 1997. She received a B.A. in 1973 from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, and received a J.D. in 1977 from the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ms. Jones has been with the Office of Immigration Litigation since 1990, starting as a Trial Attorney. In 1994, she became an Assistant Director/Team Leader in that section. From 1977 to 1990, Ms. Jones served in the U.S. Navy in the Judge Advocate General Corps where she held positions from prosecutor and defense counsel to military judge. While stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Ms. Jones served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney, representing the U.S. Navy in civil litigation. Ms. Jones is the recipient of several awards including the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service and the Executive Office for Immigration Review's Meritorious Public Service Award.

Edward R. Grant was appointed to the Board in January 1998. He received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from Georgetown University, and his Juris Doctorate in 1982 from Northwestern University School of Law. Prior to joining EOIR, Mr. Grant served as Counsel to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims from February 1995 to January 1998. From 1992 until he joined the Subcommittee, he was employed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in Washington, D.C., where he served as a Deputy Associate General Counsel, Refugee and Asylum Law Division, and as Legislative Counsel. Mr. Grant was associated with the Chicago, Illinois, law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson from 1987 through 1990, and with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath from 1982 to 1984. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Executive Director and General Counsel of Americans United for Life in Chicago.

Lori Scialabba was appointed to the Board in March 1998. She received her undergraduate degree in 1982 from the University of Maryland, and her Juris Doctorate in 1985 from Memphis State University.

Ms. Scialabba served as Deputy General Counsel for INS in Washington, D.C., from April 1994 to March 1998. From 1991 to 1994, she served as Associate General Counsel, Civil Litigation Section, INS. Ms. Scialabba worked as a Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice's Civil Division from 1989 to 1991. From 1986 to 1989, she served as Assistant General Counsel, INS.

- EOIR -