In the Matter of Ron Douglas Patterson on Habeas Corpus

Proposed Amici Curiae Brief by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, et al., in Support of Petitioner Ron Douglas Patterson.

Brief filed: 04/13/2016

Documents

In the Matter of Ron Douglas Patterson on Habeas Corpus

Supreme Court of California; Case No. S225194

Prior Decision

Below People v. Patterson, 2015 WL 1057677 (Cal.App. 4 Dist. Mar. 9, 2015).

Argument(s)

Defense counsel in California have long understood and accepted their constitutional obligation to advise noncitizen clients that they face mandatory deportation upon conviction. Defense counsel in California have long understood and accepted their duty to defend against adverse immigration consequences. Counsel's obligations are well documented in relevant guidelines and publications, and counsel have access to an array of resources to assist them in fulfilling this duty.

Author(s)

Cody S. Harris, Keker & Van Nest LLP, San Francisco, CA; Rose Cahn, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, San Francisco, CA; David M. Porter, Sacramento, CA.