What is Judge Craig A. Newell Jr.'s background?
EOIR's notice says that Craig A. Newell Jr. was appointed in May 2026. Judge Newell earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from the College of the Holy Cross and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from the Villanova University School of Law. From October 2007 to April 2026, he was with the Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, Department of Justice, serving as a senior litigation counsel (November 2021April 2026), and as a trial attorney (October 2007-November 2021). From January 2006 to September 2007, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert F. Kelly, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. From August 2005 to January 2006, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Russell M. Nigro, Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
What the official record establishes
The source lists the name Craig A. Newell Jr. in 1 alphabetical row. The recorded title is Immigration Judge. The record is not an appointment history or an employment certification.
Dated court associations
EOIR’s court-specific tables associate this entry with Memphis Immigration Court. The relationship is recorded as listed 2026-10-20; it may include supervisory coverage rather than a merits-hearing assignment.
No outcome or personal-profile claims
This entry does not provide an asylum approval rate, predict a decision, or claim personal background not established by the cited source. Confirm the assigned judge and attendance details from your notice and the court. A change of judge does not by itself change deadlines or excuse attendance.