The Honorable Immigration Judge Melissa I Isaak
Atlanta — W. Peachtree Street, GA Immigration Court
Appointed April 2026 · President Donald Trump → Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Less than a year on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Melissa I Isaak earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1999, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology in 2001, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice in 2002, all from Troy State University, and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from Barry University School of Law. From 2009 to March 2026 she was in private practice at the Isaak Law Firm in Alabama, focusing on civil litigation and appellate work, and from 2007 to 2009 she was an attorney at Brock & Stout in Enterprise, Alabama. Prior to law school she worked as a child and adolescent therapist from 2002 to 2007. She holds the rank of major in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
136
Completions per year
136 total
51.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
26.3 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
29.9%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
11.8%
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.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
1 bond decision Too few cases
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
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 | |
6.2%⚠ |
16 decisions Too few cases |
| Withholding / CAT | |
0%⚠ |
23 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR) | |
14.3%⚠ |
7 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42A (LPR) | |
100%⚠ |
1 decision Too few cases |
| Voluntary departure | |
81.5%⚠ |
27 decisions Too few cases |
6.2%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 16 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyer⚠represented · 12 decisions since 2021
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 4 decisions since 2021
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).