# Melissa L. Isaak 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 Judge · [Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ga/eoir-georgia-atlanta-w-peachtree-street-immigration-court) Last updated October 27, 2026 ## Melissa L. Isaak at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ga/eoir-georgia-atlanta-w-peachtree-street-immigration-court) Current assignment [Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ga/eoir-georgia-atlanta-w-peachtree-street-immigration-court) Jurisdiction Georgia · Federal Judicial service Active ## Hearings & court access EOIR publishes the following court assignment and hearing-access information for this judge. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. ### [Atlanta](/kyj/court/ga/eoir-georgia-atlanta-w-peachtree-street-immigration-court) Assigned court [Atlanta](/kyj/court/ga/eoir-georgia-atlanta-w-peachtree-street-immigration-court) Webex / internet [Join EOIR Webex ↗](https://eoir.webex.com/meet/IJ.Isaak) Telephone access 2829 780 4219 EOIR lists Internet-based hearing links and telephonic access codes in its current hearing directory. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. Unrepresented respondents generally appear in person unless EOIR directs otherwise. [EOIR hearing directory ↗](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings) · verified August 18, 2026 ## Immigration proceeding outcomes No proceeding outcomes in this EOIR release are matched to this profile. Any separately published asylum statistics are available below. Asylum decisions and other statistics ## Analytics Published EOIR records include 49 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 1 (2.0%) and denied in 48 (98.0%); 0 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics) ## Biography ### Professional career - Alabama-based attorney and former “men’s rights” family law lawyer who was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) as a temporary immigration judge in Atlanta in April 2026 - 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. - Listed as a temporary immigration judge with no prior immigration law experience ### Education - Barry University School of Law — J.D. (2007) ### Additional information - Current role: Temporary immigration judge, Atlanta (appointed April 2026) - In a 2021 interview, Isaak said her mother taught her “there’s two types of women” — “good, solid, valuable women” and “a warm, wet hole,” the latter defined as women whose value is offering sexual gratification to men. - Isaak founded the Isaak Law Firm, specializing exclusively in family law matters for men, and has been a public advocate for shared parenting and fathers’ rights. - Before her judicial appointment, Isaak was a Captain in the Alabama National Guard and held the role of Trial Defense Counsel. - She later obtained a law degree from Barry University, where she was on the law review - She holds the rank of major in the U.S. Army Reserve. - She has also represented high-profile clients, including former Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore and multiple January 6 Capitol riot defendants - Her appointment drew significant media attention due to past statements. - Judge Isaak is a member of the Alabama State Bar, District of Columbia Bar, Florida Bar, and the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. ## Notable coverage ### [Trump officials hire ‘deportation judges’ with less training, experience](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/04/27/justice-department-immigration-judges-deportation/) The Washington Post · April 27, 2026 · major national The Washington Post identifies Isaak as a temporary Atlanta immigration judge and reports on her prior professional background. Applicable Court Rules & Procedures Rules last checked July 30, 2026 . ### Filing requirements For non-detained individual calendar hearings, advance filings are generally due at least 30 days before the hearing and responses are due within 10 days after the original filing; detained-case deadlines are set by the immigration judge. ### Exhibits Briefs, motions, and exhibits should use consecutive page numbers, and proposed exhibits or supporting documents should include a table of contents identifying page numbers. ### Witnesses A witness list should identify each non-respondent witness, summarize the expected testimony, estimate its length, state the testimony language, and include a CV or resume for an expert. ### Interpreter Request Deadline A respondent or practitioner should request an interpreter no later than 30 days before the hearing at which interpreter services will be needed. ### Addressing The Judge Address the immigration judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge,” and stand when the judge enters and exits the courtroom. ### Oral argument Except when questioning witnesses, direct oral argument and statements to the immigration judge rather than debating the opposing party. ### Recording and broadcasting Only the immigration judge may record a hearing; practitioners of record may use silent electronic devices only for immediately relevant court business and subject to the judge’s control. ### Hearings At an individual calendar hearing, be prepared to make opening and closing statements, raise evidentiary objections, present witnesses and evidence, and cross-examine opposing witnesses. If the hearing medium is uncertain or an internet-based hearing cannot be accessed, contact the hearing immigration court; unrepresented respondents default to in-person hearings. ### Remote appearances Photographing or recording any part of an internet-based immigration hearing is prohibited and may result in penalties. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked September 15, 2026 . ### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 19, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.1 - Delivery and Receipt Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.3 - Documents ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10 - Interpreters ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11 - Courtroom Decorum ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.12 - Electronic Devices ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.15 - Individual Calendar Hearing ### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings ### EOIR Announces 15 Immigration Judges and 17 Temporary Immigration Judges Identity source · PDF · Source checked September 15, 2026 [Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)