Thursday, February 14, 2008

Perez v. Mukasey (9th Cir. - Feb. 14, 2008)

One Ninth Circuit judge says it's okay to be two hours late to your deportation hearing -- that as long as the immigration judge is still on the bench once you show up, you can't be removed in absentia. Another Ninth Circuit judge, writing in dissent, says that's not okay at all, and that you can be deported as a result.

One of these judges is Judge Reinhardt. The other is Judge Rymer. You probably don't need to read the opinion to figure out which is which. But if you do, here it is.

The majority rules. You can be two hours late.