What is Judge Richard B. Cato's background?
EOIR's notice says that Richard B. Cato was appointed in October 2022. Judge Cato earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor in 1986 from Florida State University College of Law. From 2008 to 2022, he was a hearing officer and administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Hearings and Appeals, National Appeals Division. From 2001 to 2008, he worked for the State of Florida Department of Children and Families in the following roles: staff attorney (2001-2005); deputy chief legal counsel Orange County (2005-2007); and chief legal counsel Polk County (2007-2008). Also, from 2001 to 2008, he was appointed by the State of Florida Office of the Attorney General to accept periodic case assignments as a board arbitrator for the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. From 1998 to 2001, he was the managing attorney for Greater Orlando Area Legal Services (GOALS).
What does TRAC report about Judge Richard B. Cato'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 Richard B. Cato decided 327 asylum cases at Orlando Immigration Court and denied 75.5 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 Richard B. Cato 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 Orlando Immigration Court. The relationship is recorded as listed 2026-10-20; it may include supervisory coverage rather than a merits-hearing assignment.