Immigration Law Clinic Has Client's Convictions Vacated
The UC Davis School of Law Immigration Law Clinic successfully petitioned to have a client's criminal convictions vacated last week, thanks to a collaborative effort spearheaded by Su Yon Yi '10 and Parisa Ijadi-Magshoodi '10.
The client, a long-term permanent resident of the United States, was being detained in Arizona for past criminal convictions he had not realized were deportable. The man's sister, a UC Davis student, came to the clinic seeking help, and Ijadi-Magshoodi began investigating whether any type of criminal post-conviction relief might be available. She reviewed criminal files and transcripts and realized the client had not been given the required warning regarding the ways in which a plea could affect his immigration status.
Ijadi-Magshoodi then worked to draft motions to vacate the pleas and assisted in preparing a declaration, and Yi located an expert witness and helped to finalize the briefing. On July 30, Yi argued motions in both Placer County and Yolo County Superior Court and won both motions, clearing the convictions.
Professor Holly Cooper, staff attorney with the Immigration Law Clinic, said that Yolo County Superior Court Judge Paul K. Richardson praised the students' legal writing after the hearing. She also thanked several people who contributed to the victory, including alumni Jennifer Sheetz '98 and Tally Kingsnorth '07, as well as Kathy Brady and Michael Mehr of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and attorney Norton Tooby.
"This was a true collaboration," said Cooper.