Opinion ID: 3050632
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mendoza’s Decision to Hire a New Lawyer

Text: The IJ was clearly upset with Mendoza for his decision to hire a new lawyer just one day before the merits hearing. At the hearing, the IJ criticized Mendoza for “just let[ting] the thing ride for almost two years” and stated that “I can’t understand why you would sit around for almost two years and then at the last minute say, gee, the people I hired to help me didn’t do their job, I better go get a new one.” The IJ also made clear at the hearing that his frustration with Mendoza’s decision was driven in no small part by attorney Paek’s ex parte comments that morning.12 He told Mendoza that “more importantly, sir, as I stated, Mr. Paek came in early this morning saying, Judge, I don’t know whether my client is going to show up because I se[n]t him letters and he hasn’t responded to me.” (emphasis added). 12 The fact that attorney Paek did not appear on the record raises questions about Paek’s credibility. In light of the serious accusations attorney Paek made against the client he was retained to represent, the IJ should have ordered Paek to attend the merits hearing. Having attorney Paek reiterate his accusations during the hearing would have ensured that they were made on the record. More importantly, it would have given Mendoza the opportunity to refute the accusations and request that attorney Paek offer some evidence (such as copies of the letters that he allegedly sent) of his attempts to contact Mendoza. MENDOZA-MAZARIEGOS v. MUKASEY 16031 It is not clear why the IJ would believe, without further inquiry, attorney Paek’s accusations that Mendoza, facing deportation and permanent separation from his family, completely failed to prepare his case by ignoring his lawyer’s attempts to contact him for his merits hearing.13 In his final decision, the IJ did not mention his ex parte, off-the-record conversation with attorney Paek. Instead, IJ Fong relied on his conclusion that Mendoza “ultimately admitted it was his negligence and failure to prepare and could not give an excuse or reason for another continuance.” [5] This conclusion is not supported by the record. The IJ’s statement that Mendoza “could not give an excuse or reason for another continuance” is flatly contradicted by the record. In fact, much of the hearing concerned Mendoza’s explanation about why he had to retain a new attorney.14 Further, the IJ’s statement that Mendoza “ultimately admitted” his negligence relies on a comment made by Mendoza that does not deserve significant weight. The IJ’s conclusion was based on Mendoza’s statement that “I acknowledge before you that a great part of all this has been negligence for not getting in touch with an attorney. I think I don’t deserve an opportunity. Whatever your decision is I will abide by that.” Mendoza made this statement after the IJ had just engaged in an extended monologue lecturing Mendoza for failing to hire a new attorney sooner. It also directly followed the IJ’s interrogation regarding whether Mendoza had “good cause” for a continuance. In this discussion of “good cause,” Mendoza clearly did not understand the questions or the legal con13 The IJ made no adverse credibility finding in his decision. Thus, we must assume that the IJ found Mendoza credible, and accept Mendoza’s sworn testimony as true. See Recinos de Leon v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 1185, 1191 (9th Cir. 2005) (“[I]n the absence of a clear adverse credibility finding, we take the petitioner’s testimony to be true.”). 14 There is no mention in the IJ’s decision of Mendoza’s claim that attorney Paek deserted him, which seems strange given the central role it played in Mendoza’s request for the continuance. 16032 MENDOZA-MAZARIEGOS v. MUKASEY cept of “good cause.” To the extent that Mendoza understood the concept, he seemed to have confused good cause for the continuance with good cause for granting his cancellation application. Despite the fact that Mendoza was unfamiliar with both the language and the legal system, proceeding pro se with the help of an interpreter, the IJ showed no patience for Mendoza’s attempts to explain why he had good cause, immediately cutting Mendoza off each time he tried to talk: IJ: Now, what are the grounds that you believe are good cause for granting you another two year continuance? Mendoza: I have an old child, Your Honor. IJ: No, sir, that’s not a ground. That’s already in the record. Mendoza: May I finish? IJ: You mean if I wait long enough the child will get even older and then I — Mendoza: May I — may I — IJ: — should grant it again? Mendoza: — finish, Your Honor? IJ: No. No, sir, that’s not a good ground. You can forget that one. After the IJ had lectured Mendoza on his failure to fire his attorney and after Mendoza had that exchange regarding “good cause,” Mendoza eventually gave up and offered that “whatever your decision is I will abide by that.” Mendoza’s pitiful statement, however, does not indicate that he believed he was at fault for the five years of repeated continuances or MENDOZA-MAZARIEGOS v. MUKASEY 16033 that he should forfeit his right to counsel for deciding to hire a new attorney just before the hearing. Rather, his words reflect that he eventually gave in to an authority figure who had berated him for much of the hearing and who had already decided not to grant him a continuance. Even if Mendoza should have fired attorney Paek sooner, this misstep does not justify a forfeiture of his right to counsel. Mendoza hired attorney Paek, a licensed professional with knowledge of the law, to help him navigate the maze that is our immigration system. And, like many similarly situated aliens, even when unsatisfied with the quality of representation, Mendoza was reluctant to leave attorney Paek because of the fear that the departure would negatively affect his chances for relief. [6] Thus, Mendoza’s continued trust in attorney Paek does not constitute negligence or an attempt to delay the case in bad faith. In fact, it would have been reasonable for Mendoza to rely on his counsel’s purported knowledge and experience and to trust that attorney Paek would protect his interests. Instead, Mendoza’s sworn testimony indicates that he did much more than just trust that his attorney would do the job he was hired and paid to do. Mendoza repeatedly called attorney Paek’s office inquiring about his case. Paek’s office told Mendoza that any question “had to be to them” and refused to let him speak to the attorney. When attorney Paek’s office was not responsive, Mendoza was reluctant to give up on him because “it was very difficult having lost all that money they charged me.” Quite reasonably, the prospect of hiring another lawyer was daunting for someone of Mendoza’s modest means. However, when Mendoza became convinced that attorney Paek would not represent him adequately (or at all), he retained a second attorney, attorney Boachie-Yiadom. Considering Mendoza’s lack of English proficiency, his unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system, and his retention of a licensed professional, there is no doubt that Mendoza was not negligent in pursuing his case. The fact that the IJ would have 16034 MENDOZA-MAZARIEGOS v. MUKASEY dealt with his attorney in a manner different from the way Mendoza dealt with attorney Paek does not justify the IJ’s denial of a short continuance, which effectively denied Mendoza his right to counsel.15