EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / Melissa L. Isaak
Judge Melissa L. Isaak
Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court · Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street, Georgia · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court in Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street, Georgia is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with Georgia. EOIR venue and transfer rules determine where an individual case is heard, so respondents should follow the location on their latest notice.
Immigration Judge Role and Case Types
Immigration judges are trial-level adjudicators who preside over removal proceedings. They decide whether a respondent is removable and consider applications for relief such as asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and cancellation of removal. They also hear bond matters when the court has jurisdiction. EOIR does not publish individual immigration judge decision statistics in the same way the Social Security Administration publishes Administrative Law Judge disposition statistics.
Professional Role
Immigration Court Melissa L. Isaak was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in April of 2026. Judge Isaak earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1999 from Troy State University, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology in 2001, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice in 2002, both 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 Isaak Law Firm in Alabama focusing on civil litigation and appellate work. From 2007 to 2009, she was an attorney at Brock & Stout in Enterprise in Alabama. From 2002 to 2007, prior to attending law school, Judge Isaak was a child and adolescent therapist in both a residential and outpatient setting clinical settings. She holds the rank of major in the U.S. Army Reserve. Judge Isaak is a member of the Alabama State Bar, District of Columbia Bar, Florida Bar, and the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama.
Immigration judges are attorneys appointed by the Attorney General. EOIR's published qualifications call for at least seven years of post-bar-admission legal experience. Judges serve as trial-level adjudicators in the immigration court system; they are not attorneys for either side.
Immigration Process and Respondent Resources
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, court procedures, and enforcement policies can change. Deadlines and options depend on your case and the notices you received. Talk with a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your situation.