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 Meghan Buhl-Madsen earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2012 from Colorado State University and a Juris Doctor in 2015 from the University of Wyoming College of Law. From September 2017 to March 2026, she served as an attorney advisor at the Denver Immigration Court, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice. From September 2015 to September 2017, she served as a judicial law clerk and attorney advisor at the Denver and Aurora immigration courts, entering on duty through the Attorney General's Honors Program. She is a member of the Colorado Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
87
Completions per year
174 total
82.8%
Detained at decision
share of cases
1.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
4.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 2 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.
46.4%
Bond requests granted
56 bond decisions Moderate
$4,750
Median bond when set
24 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 46.4%
Court average 59.8% · median $4,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
25%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Withholding / CAT
0%⚠
8 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
0%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
0%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Voluntary departure
86.7%
60 decisions Moderate
25%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 4 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
This judge
25%
This court
28.8%
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 · 3 decisions since 2021
33.3%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 1 decision 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).