Due Process and the Dedicated Docket

What happens when asylum seekers are placed on expedited court dockets designed to prioritize efficiency over fairness? With the support of a Public Good Grant, Dr. Rebecca Galemba and a team of students set out to investigate this pressing question through the DU Courtwatch Project, a research initiative aiming to examine due process violations and disparities in Denver's Immigration Court  

The project began with a focus on documenting due process violations and comparing the Dedicated Docket, a fast-tracked court process for asylum cases, with cases on the regular timeline. Collaborating with the Colorado Asylum Center and later expanding partnerships to include the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) and Innovation Law Lab (ILL), the team employed court observations, interviews with immigration attorneys, and TRAC data analysis to uncover critical issues. 

What They Found 

Through observing 610 cases and interviewing 21 immigration attorneys and experts, the team discovered a troubling climate of confusion, overcrowding, and procedural inconsistency in Denver's immigration court. These challenges were particularly acute on the Dedicated Docket, where expedited timelines left asylum seekers with less time to prepare their cases, secure legal representation, or even fully understand their rights. The Dedicated Docket has a much lower rate of representation than regular dockets nationwide and Denver immigration court suffers from one of the nation’s lowest rates of representation overall. Yet,  immigrants with attorneys are much more likely to prevail in their asylum cases.  

The team’s findings highlight how individual judge behavior and courtroom atmospheres often deter asylum seekers from accessing the legal support they need. In some cases, court officials prioritize efficiency over clarity, offering group advisal that fail to ensure individual understanding of rights and processes. Moreover, the lack of transparency means that asylum seekers and even their attorneys may not realize they’ve been assigned to the expedited docket until their first hearing. 

Making the Data Accessible 

To make their findings more accessible and impactful, the team created an interactive Tableau dashboard and a project website, designed by former DU student and lead research assistant Ella Iveslatt. These resources provide a transparent view of the team’s observations, allowing community partners and the public to engage with the data in real time. 

Beyond the dashboard, the project has also produced academic contributions, including conference papers, a co-written article about incorporating the project into Galemba’s methods course with faculty at two other universities pursuing similar projects in immigration court, student blogs, and public presentations. Faculty and students have presented findings at conferences like the Society for Applied Anthropology and the American Anthropological Association. The research has also been integrated into DU coursework, offering students hands-on experience in court observation, data analysis, and advocacy work. 

Collaboration and Advocacy 

Partnerships have been central to the DU Courtwatch project’s success. Collaborating with organizations like RMIAN, the Colorado Asylum Center, and Innovation Law Lab, the team has not only collected critical data but also contributed to broader advocacy efforts for transparency and fairness in immigration courts. 

Although Innovation Law Lab’s Courtwatch tool was temporarily suspended in 2024 due to financial constraints, the DU team adapted, developing their own tracking systems to continue recording and sharing data. Their ongoing work aims to inform public understanding of expedited court processes and advocate for policy reforms that prioritize due process over bureaucratic speed. 

A Continuing Mission 

Looking ahead, the DU Courtwatch project plans to expand its analysis of TRAC data and explore how expedited processing impacts families seeking asylum. With additional funding and collaborations on the horizon, the team is poised to deepen its impact on immigration policy discussions. 

The project is not only raising awareness about systemic issues but also equipping students with the tools and experience to engage in meaningful, community-focused research. Through their ongoing efforts, the DU Courtwatch team hopes to foster greater transparency and drive meaningful change in immigration courts. 

To learn more about the DU Courtwatch project, visit their website or explore the interactive Tableau dashboard.