[JURIST] US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [official profile; JURIST news archive] on Tuesday sent memos to immigration judges [PDF] and the Board of Immigration Appeals [PDF text, both via How Appealing] informing them that he has ordered a review of US immigration courts. Gonzales said the review was necessary because of the poor quality of work and discourteous conduct of an increasing number of the judges employed by the Justice Department. Gonzales' demand for a comprehensive review of immigration courts is in response to mounting criticism from both civil rights organizations and federal judges that review immigration court decisions. In recent years, particularly due to post-Sept. 11 reforms, immigration courts have sped up the pace of their decisions, and have produced unsupported orders that are many times overturned in federal court. The Boston Globe has more; the San Jose Mercury News has additional coverage.