U Visa Certifications: Ethical Considerations for Judicial Officers PowerPoint Presentation

Description

Courts and judicial ethics boards are better able to issue opinions and decisions that reflect Congressional and DHS intent when relying upon the expertise of and publications issued by DHS and USCIS for legally accurate information about immigration law. In this peer-to-peer session, faculty provide guidance to state, federal and tribal court judges on when and how judges can ethically sign U visa certifications under the guidance provided by the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Ethics. Most states’ Codes of Judicial Conduct are closely aligned with the ABA Model Code. Faculty begin with a brief introduction to the U visa program, focusing on common misunderstandings about immigration law and the U visa program that arise in Judicial Ethics Board opinions and court cases. The objectives of this session are to highlight inaccuracies and misconceptions in these ethics opinions, provide legally accurate information on immigration law that is consistent with DHS and USCIS regulations, policy, and publications and demonstrate when and how judges can ethically sign U visa certifications.

Faculty

• Hon. Rosemary Collins (Ret.), Circuit Court Judge, 17th District Circuit Court, Winnebago County
• Hon. Ramona Gonzalez (Ret.), Circuit Court Judge, La Cross County, Wisconsin, Past President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Hon. Chanpone P. Sinlapasai, Circuit Court Judge, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Portland, Oregon
• Leslye E. Orloff, Adjunct Professor and Director, NIWAP, American University Washington College of Law