US v. Moriel-Luna, No. 08-50124

In defendant's appeal from a denial of his motion to dismiss his indictment for illegal reentry into the U.S. by a deported alien, the district court's order is affirmed where: 1) an Immigration Judge (IJ) is not required to act creatively to advise an immigrant of ways in which his legal prospects at forestalling deportation might improve with fundamental changes in his status; 2) the IJ's failure to inform defendant of his section 212(c) options did not prejudice him because he was not entitled to a section 212(c) waiver due to his commission of an aggravated felony; and 3) the IJ was not obligated to grant indefinite continuances if defendant did not produce counsel but refused to waive his right to counsel.

Read US v. Moriel-Luna, No. 08-50124

Appellate Information

Argued and Submitted August 31, 2009

Filed October 29, 2009

Judges

Opinion by Judge Gould

Counsel

For Appellant:

Douglas F. McCormick, Michael J. Raphael, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Santa Ana, CA

For Appellee:

Jonathan D. Libby, Federal Public Defender's Office, Los Angeles, CA