What is Judge John Zachary's background?
EOIR's notice says that John Zachary was appointed in August 2026. Judge Zachary earned a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in 1993 from Louisiana Tech University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1996 from the University of Texas School of Law. From April 2016 to August 2026, he served as an assistant chief counsel with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Oakdale, Louisiana. From September 2013 to April 2016, he was in private practice. From May 2005 to September 2013, he served as in-house tribal counsel for the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana in Elton, Louisiana. From August 1996 until May 2005, he was in private practice.
What the official record establishes
The source lists the name John Zachary 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 Oakdale 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.