Source: EOIR — Find an Immigration Court.
Recording an internet-based hearing is prohibited (8 C.F.R. § 1003.28). Respondents without a representative default to in-person hearings.
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge James Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from Indiana University, a Juris Doctor in 2001 from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and a Master of Strategic Studies in 2023 from the U.S. Army War College. He served as chief deputy and general counsel in the Office of the Indiana State Treasurer (2007-2014), served on active duty as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army (2014-2017), and served as an administrative judge for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Indianapolis (2018-2025); he holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Indiana Army National Guard. He was appointed as a temporary immigration judge in October 2025. Judge Holden is a member of the Indiana State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
144
Completions per year
289 total
72%
Detained at decision
share of cases
20.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
20.8%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
13.1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 1 appeals — too few
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
2 bond decisions Too few cases
$6,000
Median bond when set
1 bonds with amounts
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 33.3% · median $7,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
4.3%⚠
47 decisions Too few cases
Withholding / CAT
4.5%
88 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
9.1%⚠
33 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
0%⚠
7 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
98.1%
53 decisions Moderate
4.3%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 47 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
This judge
4.3%
This court
13.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyer⚠represented · 36 decisions since 2021
5.6%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 11 decisions since 2021
0%
Asylum grant rate over time
Each point is that calendar year's grant rate, back to 2015 where the judge was deciding cases — the longer career view. Dashed grey line = current national average (31.8%). Headline rates above use 2021 – today.
* 2026 is a partial year (data through 06/01/2026) and is incomplete.
Courts where this judge has decided cases
Hearing locations for cases this judge completed since 2021, by number of decisions.
Many judges hear cases from more than one court (detained facilities, video dockets, or reassignments).