Philip Montante

After earning his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Samford University College of Law, Judge Philip Montante became an assistant state’s attorney in Florida in 1971. Since that time, Judge Philip Montante has prosecuted or presided over numerous criminal and civil cases as an attorney or member of the judiciary.

Judge Montante’s other roles as an attorney have included prosecuting white-collar crimes in Florida as a special assistant Florida attorney general from 1975-1976. In 1975, he also began his private practice, Philip J. Montante Jr. PA, where he represented clients involved in civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts until 1990 when appointed to the United States Immigration Court bench by the U.S. Attorney General.

Judge Montante also served as chief municipal court judge in Margate, Florida, from 1976-1977, where he presided over cases involving misdemeanor offenses and violation of city ordinances. In 1990, he began presiding over the United States Immigration Court, where he has made rulings in more than 30,000 cases, including those related to political asylum, the United Nations Convention Against Torture, Marriage Fraud or those who have been removed and deported from the United States after being convicted of serious criminal offenses, He also co-authored the publication Protection and Custody of Children in United States Immigration Court Proceedings.

In addition to his work in the courts, Judge Montante was appointed by the governor of Florida to a 4 year term as Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission in the 17th Circuit of Florida. He was also appointed to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships under President George W. Bush in 2001 and President Donald J. Trump in 2018. This role involved assisting in the selection of White House fellows and overseeing the country’s premier leadership program and also served as Chairman of the Federal Executive Board in Western New York.