Tag Archive for: non US citizens applying to Florida Bar

Florida Supreme Court to Hear Whether or Not Undocumented Immigrants Are Eligible for Admission to The Florida Bar

The Florida Supreme Court is now back in session and is facing several high-profile cases.  One of those cases to be decided is:

Florida Board of Bar Examiners Re: Question as to Whether Undocumented Immigrants Are Eligible for Admission to The Florida Bar.

We have already posted twice on our blog regarding this case.  To review, click on the following links:

https://www.floridabarhearing.com/barhearingblog/?p=177

https://www.floridabarhearing.com/barhearingblog/?p=225

Briefly, the case involves Jose Godinez-Samperio, who came to America at 9 years-old from Mexico and graduated from law school at Florida State University. The problem is, Godinez-Samperio is an undocumented immigrant. The Supreme Court heard arguments in October, 2012, after the Florida Board of Bar Examiners asked the justices for guidance.

Godinez-Samperio also was approved to stay and work in the country under the 2012 Obama administration policy — “deferred action” — which was developed to help young people.

Last year the justices questioned whether the federal law prohibits undocumented immigrants from getting law licenses. In May, the U.S. Department of Justice said federal law bars the Florida Supreme Court from issuing a law license to an “unlawfully present alien,” regardless of the deferred-action issue. This dealt a major blow to Godinez-Samperio’s case.

Attorney Lars K. Soreide,  Soreide Law Group, represents those seeking admittance to the Florida Bar, and existing lawyers, for both Investigative Hearings and Formal Hearings in front of The Florida Bar. For more information about our services please call (888) 760-6552.

 

Non-US Citizens Applying to The Florida Bar

The following message was sent from the Florida Bar to the 17th Circuit Representatives of  The Florida Bar Board of Governors;

“The Florida Bar Board of Governors met on July 26, 2013. Major actions of the board and reports received include:

In response to a notice of intent to file a petition to amend Rule 1-3.1 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar to specify that no one who has complied with requirements for Bar  admission be disqualified from membership solely because he or she is  not a U.S. citizen, the board voted to respond to the petition after its filing by indicating that the board supports the concept contained in  the petition, but that the board believes that the amendment is more  appropriately placed in the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to  Admissions to the Bar, and that the board recommends to the Supreme  Court of Florida that it seek input from the Board of Bar Examiners on  the issue. The notice of intent to file the petition was submitted as  per Rule 1-12.1(f) and (g). The Florida Bar has not taken a position on the case of Jose Godinez-Samperio, an undocumuented immigrant seeking to become a member of the Bar.”

The following article pertains to the above mentioned case and appeared in our blog:

https://www.floridabarhearing.com/barhearingblog/?p=177

Attorney Lars K. Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, represents those seeking admittance to the Florida Bar, and existing lawyers, for both Investigative Hearings and Formal Hearings in front of the Florida Bar. For more information about our services please call (888) 760-6552