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 Jennifer R Bell earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2005 from Auburn University and a Juris Doctor in 2009 from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law. From 2019 to 2022 she worked for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, Department of Health and Human Services, in Atlanta. She previously served as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Louisville, Kentucky (2018-2019), a deputy district attorney for the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office in Alabama (2010-2017), and a judicial clerk in Auburn, Alabama (2009-2010).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,782
Completions per year
10,693 total
4.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
20.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
47.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
2.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
47.2%
Appeals remanded or reversed
36 appeals decided
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
62.7%
Bond requests granted
67 bond decisions Moderate
$7,500
Median bond when set
42 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 62.7%
Court average 0%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
20.7%
241 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.2%
279 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
14.3%⚠
21 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
83.3%⚠
6 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
98.9%
91 decisions Moderate
20.7%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 241 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
20.7%
This court
10.8%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 42% of the 825 judges nationally with enough cases to compare.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyerrepresented · 191 decisions since 2021
21.5%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 50 decisions since 2021
18%
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).