Opinion ID: 724570
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Finality of Convictions

Text: 10 Gutierrez-Tavares' argument that his convictions were not final, and thus could not serve as a basis for termination, is without merit. A conviction is final for purposes of the immigration laws once a party exhausts all direct appeals as of right. Morales-Alvarado v. I.N.S., 655 F.2d 172 (1981). The only court to which Gutierrez-Tavares had a right of direct appeal, the Court of Appeals of Arizona, affirmed Gutierrez-Tavares' convictions prior to the deportation hearing. Thus, Gutierrez-Tavares exhausted his direct appeals as of right, and his convictions were final for purposes of the immigration laws. His intention to collaterally attack his convictions by way of postconviction relief did not affect this finality.