(A)  Outline of this Chapter.  This Chapter will describe the following:

 

(1)  Effective Orders Vacating Convictions.  This Chapter describes the nature of a post-conviction order that must be obtained in criminal court in order effectively to eliminate a conviction for immigration purposes, so it cannot trigger deportation as a felony conviction.  See § § 11.3-11.8, infra; Post-Conviction Relief for Immigrants § § 6.2-6.10 (2004).  This includes:

 

                (a) an order vacating a conviction as legally invalid, see § 11.4, infra;

 

                (b) those rare instances in which an order granting federal or state                                           rehabilitative relief will effectively eliminate a conviction for                                                  immigration purposes, see § § 11.17, et seq., infra;

 

                (c) the continuing vitality of judicial recommendations against                                               deportation, granted prior to November 29, 1990, and possibly new                                               JRADs issued under compulsion of the United States Constitution,                                         see § 11.21, infra; and

 

                (d) state or federal executive pardons, see § § 11.22-11.24, infra.

 

(2)  Effective Orders Reducing Felonies to Misdemeanors.  This Chapter also describes state criminal court orders reducing felony convictions to misdemeanors, that must be respected by immigration authorities, so that certain convictions no longer trigger immigration consequences.  See § § 12.13-12.15, infra; Post-Conviction Relief for Immigrants § § 6.19-6.23, infra.  The contexts in which this is significant include:

 

                (a)  Certain drug trafficking convictions must be felonies to be                                                 aggravated felonies.  See § 11.14, infra.

 

                (b)  Convictions of  crimes of violence must be felony convictions                                          before they can constitute aggravated felonies under 18 U.S.C. §                                                 16(b).  See § 11.14, infra.

 

(3)  Effective Orders Vacating or Modifying Sentences.  This Chapter also describes state and federal criminal court orders vacating or modifying sentences that are effective in altering the character of the sentence so the conviction no longer triggers immigration consequences.  See § § 11.9-11.12, infra; Post-Conviction Relief for Immigrants § § 6.24-6.28, infra.

 

                (4)  Procedure to Obtain Post-Conviction Relief.  This Chapter also discusses how to obtain post-conviction relief, including finding competent counsel, § 11.26, investigating the case, § 11.27, developing a strategy, § § 11.28-11.31, and especialy how to evaluate the chances of successfully obtaining post-conviction relief.  See § § 11.32-11.67, infra.

 

(5)  Reopening Proceedings After Obtaining Post-Conviction Relief.  Finally, this Chapter discusses how immigration counsel can reopen immigration proceedings so as to avert removal or other adverse immigration consequences after post-conviction relief has been obtained.  See § § 11.6.29-6.30, infra.  It also discusses reopening criminal proceedings to take advantage of post-conviction relief.  See § 6.31, infra.

 

(6)  Other Resources.  For suggestions on where to find other resources concerning post-conviction relief for immigrants, see § 11.85, infra. 

Other

POST CON RELIEF " RESOURCES " STATE BY STATE POST-CONVICTION RELIEF STATUTES
This practice advisory and a link discuss state by state post-conviction relief statutes. http://www.adminrelief.org/resources/item.566101-Post_Conviction_Relief_Resources_by_State They are also on the www.adminrelief.org website.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE - POST-CONVICTION RELIEF - POST CON RELIEF - APPEALS
T. O'Toole, Appeal and Post Conviction Review, in L. FRIEDMAN RAMIREZ, ED., CULTURAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE 663 (2d ed. 2007).