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 Margaret D Burkhart received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas in 1983. Before her appointment she held several positions in immigrant legal services in Texas from 1983 to 1994, including roles at Texas Rural Legal Aid and the Central American Refugee Center. She was appointed as an immigration judge in September 1994.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,393
Completions per year
8,357 total
7.9%
Detained at decision
share of cases
30.1 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
9.1%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
0.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
72.7%
Appeals remanded or reversed
22 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.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
1 bond decision Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 64.8% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
62.7%
308 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
8.7%
218 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
76.7%
90 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
94.1%⚠
17 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%⚠
26 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
84.8%⚠
46 decisions Too few cases
62.7%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 308 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
62.7%
This court
30.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 10% 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 · 271 decisions since 2021
67.9%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 37 decisions since 2021
24.3%
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).