Curt Immigration Judge Booted from Case
An immigration judge who chastised an asylum seeker for crying during his hearing has been removed from the case.
A federal appeals court ruled that Judge Noel A. Ferris’ decision to deny asylum to Jian Zhong Sun was not supported by the evidence, the New York Times reports. Sun testified that Chinese authorities forced his wife to get an abortion and threatened to sterilize her, but Ferris said he was not credible.
The New York City-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was most troubled by Ferris’ note for the record that Sun’s emotional response to questions was “way out of proportion.” Her conduct raised questions about fairness, the court said.
The Times reports that Ferris is known for “displays of anger and impatience,” but she nonetheless grants asylum in about half the cases.
“She can yell all she wants, but at the end of the day she gives people a real chance to win their case,” said one immigration lawyer.
