A. Ashley Tabaddor

A. Ashley Tabaddor is a nationally recognized expert in immigration and administrative law, currently serving as a Distinguished Visiting Jurist at Southwestern Law School. With over two decades of experience across all three branches of the federal government, she previously held high-profile roles including Chief Counsel for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Biden-Harris administration and a 15-year tenure as a U.S. Immigration Judge in Los Angeles.

• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1994
• J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), 1997

Her work focuses on immigration law, administrative law, and systemic reforms to promote judicial independence and due process. She has testified before Congress on immigration court independence and previously taught as an adjunct professor at UCLA School of Law. Her scholarship and advocacy emphasize equity, justice, and the foundational role of the rule of law in democratic societies.

Notable honors include:

• Judicial excellence awards from multiple bar associations
• Federal Bar Association’s 'Government Lawyer of the Year' award

She has held leadership roles as President of the National Association of Immigration Judges and has served in the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and trial attorney. Her career bridges policy implementation, adjudication, and legal education.