On November 3, 2015, I argued an immigration case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The transcript and audio for the oral argument are on-line.  If you are reading this and you’re thinking of hiring me for your deportation case, listening to the audio will show you what I can do in court.

Since it’s an open case, I prefer not to comment about the case.  Although, I will say that it was a dream come true to be able to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.  This was my first time ever arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court.  This meant a lot to me because I’ve twice lost out on opportunities to argue before the Supreme Court.

In 2007, I was part of a team of lawyers that won a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit called Blake v. Carbone, 489 F.3d 88 (2d Cir. 2007).  At the time, Blake was considered an important decision and it was expected that the Solicitor General’s Office would file a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court challenging the Second Circuit’s decision.  However, they did not.  A few years later, the Supreme Court decided Judulang v. Holder, 132 S.Ct. 476 (2011), which involved the same issue as Blake, but from a case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In 2008, I won a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit called Martinez v. Mukasey, 519 F.3d 532 (2d Cir. 2008).  Once again, it was expected that the Solicitor General’s Office would file a petition for a writ of certiorari challenging the Second Circuit’s decision.  However, they did not.  A few years later, the Supreme Court decided Moncrieffe v. Holder,  133 S.Ct. 1678 (2013), which involved the same issue as as Martinez, but from a case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Since I won Blake and Martinez, it was hard for me to watch other lawyers litigate issues in the Supreme Court that I had litigated first in the Second Circuit.  Not being able to argue Blake and Martinez before the Supreme Court made this experience even more special for me.  I finally got my chance to argue before the Supreme Court.

 

I had my oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

I’ve returned from Washington, D.C. and I’m ready to resume doing consultations.

 

The homepage of my website says, “I do not take on more cases than I can handle.”  That time has come.  I have decided to temporarily suspend doing consultations until after November 4, 2015.  I do not have the time to both handle my current workload and do consultations. I actually have a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.  I will be arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 3, 2015.  The preparation for oral argument before the Supreme Court and whatever existing cases I have will take up all of my time between now and November 3, 2015.  After my oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, I should be able to resume doing consultations.

Please understand that I am a solo practitioner without any staff.  I even answer my own phone.  This is the way that I like to do things.  Unfortunately, I do not have the means to take on any new cases at this time.

***  I currently do not have the time to meet people for consultations.

***  I currently do not have the time to speak to people on the phone about consultations.

*** I currently do not have the time to respond to e-mail inquiries about consultations.

Please do not call or e-mail about consultations until after November 4, 2015.

IF YOU ARE AN EXISTING CLIENT, DO NOT BE CONCERNED.  I AM SUSPENDING CONSULTATIONS, SO THAT I HAVE THE TIME TO WORK ON MY EXISTING CLIENTS’ CASES.  ALL WORK WILL BE DONE ON MY EXISTING CLIENTS’ CASES.

Thank you!