What is Judge Mark Sameit's background?
EOIR's notice says that Mark Sameit was appointed in October 2021. Judge Sameit earned a Bachelor of Science in 2000 from the University of Virginia, a Juris Doctor in 2008 from William and Mary Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2012 from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. From 2008 to 2021, he served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps in the following locations: Okinawa, Japan; Camp Pendleton, California; Quantico, Virginia; and Arlington, Virginia. While serving as a Marine Judge Advocate, he served in various positions including Staff Judge Advocate, Military Judge, Supervisory Trial Counsel, Defense Counsel, and Director of the Marine Corps’ Trial Counsel Assistance Program. From 2000 to 2005, he served as an Aviation Supply Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps at Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, and Okinawa, Japan.
What does TRAC report about Judge Mark Sameit's asylum decisions?
TRAC, a research center that began at Syracuse University, reports that for FY 2021 - 2026 (data covers the first 9 months of fiscal year 2026), Judge Mark Sameit decided 424 asylum cases at Otay Mesa Immigration Court and denied 55.4 percent, based on its report of Aug 27, 2026. These are past figures for one court. They do not predict your case, which turns on your facts, evidence, nationality and representation, and TRAC cautions against simple comparisons between judges at different courts. Read the full report at TRAC, and talk to a lawyer about your own case.
What the official record establishes
The source lists the name Mark Sameit 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 Otay Mesa Immigration Court. The relationship is recorded as listed 2026-10-20; it may include supervisory coverage rather than a merits-hearing assignment.