WASHINGTON— Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. has tapped Arlington, Va., Immigration Judge Brian M. O’Leary to become the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) Chief Immigration Judge.

As the new chief Immigration judge, O’Leary will guide the immigration program’s direction and define priorities for judges in immigration courts nationwide.

Judge O’Leary served as an immigration judge from May 2007 to June 2009. He also served as a temporary member of the Board of Immigration Appeals from May 2006 to May 2007 and as a deputy chief immigration judge in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge from March 2003 to May 2006.

His previous jobs have included postitions at the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) Headquarters Office of the General Counsel and U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Miami and Alexandria, Va.