On December 28, 2015, the Ninth Circuit decided Almanza-Arenas v . Lynch. The en banc court granted Gabriel Almanza-Arenas’s petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ published precedential decision, Matter of Almanza-Arenas, 24 I. & N. Dec. 771 (BIA 2009), which held that a conviction for vehicle theft under California Vehicle Code § […]
On January 20, 2016 the Ninth Circuit decided Ramirez v . Lynch. A 9th Circuit Panel granted Hector Giovanni Ramirez’s petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision that his conviction for felony child abuse under California Penal Code § 273a(a) constitutes a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 16 and is therefore […]
On February 2, 2016, the Ninth Circuit decided Villavicencio-Rojas v. Lynch, Docket 12-70620. A Ninth Circuit panel granted Jerry Villavicencio-Rojas’ petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ summary affirmance of an Immigration Judge’s decision holding that Villavicencio’s two expunged drug possession convictions retained their immigration consequences and thus barred him from relief from removal. […]
A client of mine’s request for a civil harassment restraining order against a nightmare neighbor was granted for 3 years, requiring him to stay 100 yards away from my client and his family. Back in December, the nightmare neighbor’s frivolous request for a restraining order against my client was denied.
My client’s misdemeanor probation was terminated early. The court also expunged the underlying conviction pursuant to California Penal Section 1203.4. In the event he applies for a job, in the private sector, that asks whether he’s been convicted of this crime, he can say no. In addition, he is a lawful permanent resident who can apply […]
My client was charged with 27 counts of conspiracy to file false public documents, where there defendants were alleged to have operated a foreclosure delay service that stymied the big banks efforts to foreclose on people behind on their mortgages. Originally detained on a $1,000,000 bond, with a 1275.1 hold, I secured my client’s release […]
On Friday, January 15, 2016 I was set to proceed with an individual hearing for a detained immigration removal case in San Francisco. The client overstayed after entering the United States on the visa waiver program, so he had limited procedural rights. He switched attorneys in the middle of the case, and ended up being detained for […]
A client of mine was charged with violating his probation, and a new case, for possession of a controlled substance and possession of an injection device. The District Attorney offered 30 days in jail, but I worked with my client to establish a legal defense to the charges and put the case over to work […]
As I walked into court this morning, the traffic ticket line was spectacularly long. I knew there was an upcoming amnesty program, and sure enough it started today. So, don’t keep riding around without a license! Take advantage of this program while you can and save huge amounts of money and get back on the […]
On August 20, 2015, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal decided Salazar-Gonzalez v. Lynch, No. 11-73600 (9th Cir. 2015). The case holds that the deadline to file a motion to reopen an immigration case, normally 180 days, can be extended where the client’s prior lawyer committed ineffective assistance of counsel. In this case, Mr. Salazar-Gonzalez […]
