Jennifer is a Partner with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, a premiere law firm focusing on immigration and nationality matters. Jennifer was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in September 2016, and started to hear cases as an Immigration Judge in the Chicago Immigration Court, after a long and accomplished tenure in private practice and legal education. In 2021 Judge Peyton was promoted to Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the Chicago Immigration Court, and acting Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for the Indianapolis Immigration Court. She continued to hear cases and oversee the immigration judges until her termination from the Department of Justice in July 2025.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in 1994 and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1998. From 2003 to 2016, she practiced law in Cleveland as Managing Partner of her own firm, Jennifer I. Peyton, Attorney at Law LLC, and later as a Partner at Brown LLC during her transition to the bench.

In addition to her legal practice and as a judge, Ms. Peyton has contributed significantly to legal education. She served as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law beginning in 2006, and in 2013, she joined the faculty at Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law as an adjunct clinical professor. During her judicial tenure, she also was part of the interview and training team for immigration judges. She received the 2022 EOIR Director’s Award for her service to the pro bono steering committee, and a Presidential Commendation from AILA in 2016. While an immigration judge, she trained immigration judges, and led the law school working group. After Judge Peyton’s termination in July 2025, she has been vocal against the actions of this administration against the immigration court.

Ms. Peyton is a member of the Ohio State Bar.

Immigration Procedure