In the meantime, I’m pleased to say that there is so much on offer that I entirely missed a 1.5-hour seminar on the topic offered by the CLE Department (and yes, it’s still available online).
On Nov. 21, 2014, volunteer attorneys answered almost 400 calls from Arizona consumers regarding immigration and the November 20 presidential executive order on the topic.
Talk about timely: One day after historic action was taken by President Barack Obama on the topic of immigration, the State Bar of Arizona fielded a call-in program to address the inevitable questions that would arise.
As Alberto Rodriguez reports:
The State Bar of Arizona and Univision 33 hosted a special edition of Abogados a Su Lado (attorneys on your side) public service program on Friday, November 21. In response to the executive order issued by President Obama on Thursday, November 20, both the Bar and Univision organized a phone bank that would help clarify consumers’ questions regarding immigration law, as well as inform them of the initial details regarding the President’s executive order. The following is a recap of the program.
Nine attorneys volunteered their time and knowledge from 5:00 pm until 10:30 pm:
Emilia Banuelos, Banuelos Law Office
Tony Colon, Colon & Associates
Seth B. Draper, Salvatierra Law Group
Mark Egan, Gunderson Denton & Peterson
Magaly Fontes, Law Office of Magaly Fontes
Bruno Gitnacht, Law Office of Bruno Gitnacht
Ray Ybarra Maldonado, Law Office of Ray Ybarra Maldonado
Christina Ortecho, Ortecho Law
Matthew Thomas, Thomas Law Firm
The attorneys answered an astounding 385 calls regarding the President’s executive order and immigration law. This special edition phone bank was extended and offered during a five-and-a-half-hour time period.
Sample consumer questions:
When will the details be released? When and how do I apply for deferred action?
What are the specific details regarding the tax returns?
Does this cancel removal/voluntary departure procedures?
I got a DUI in the past, does this count as criminal activity?
How do I prepare? What documents do I need to provide?
I am already in the process of applying for citizenship, does this affect me?
All volunteers were satisfied with the quality of the questions overall and were excited to have participated in this special edition of Abogados a Su Lado public service program.
We thank Univision 33 for their continued partnership in providing this valuable “Access to Justice” program for the Spanish-speaking community.
As an unending election season fosters a pretty rigid “tough on crime” stance in all candidates, today’s annual ritual—a presidential pardon of a turkey—begins to look odder and odder.
This past hour, President Barack Obama stood before a gathering of reporters and, with his daughters at his side, issued a life-saving pardon for Apple and his “understudy,” Cider.
Here is the complete video:
Off-camera, a representative of the National Turkey Federation (you read that right) gripped the near-meal named Apple, which (who?) appeared blissfully unaware of the fate he had narrowly escaped.
One correspondent, Colby Hall, described the festivities with what I think is the appropriate level of incredulity. As the account opens:
“The official pardoning of a turkey in celebration of Thanksgiving is perhaps the most absurd ritual in a year’s worth of White House events. That’s sort of why it’s so awesome. Earlier today, President Obama pardoned his third turkey (THAT WE KNOW OF) and had some fun with the goofy tradition by gesticulating towards the big bird in a papal fashion — that is certain to anger someone somewhere — before officially declaring ‘you are hereby pardoned.’”
As if there is not enough surrealism surrounding this holiday (I mean, there’s a National Turkey Federation!), take a look at this poll from the Washington Post. They took the time and resources to poll Americans on—their attitude toward Thanksgiving!
Tongue at least slightly in cheek, the reporter described the “findings,” which are broken down by gender and party.
“Consensus at last: almost all Americans—from coast to coast and across stiffening party lines— have favorable views of Thanksgiving dinner, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
“Overall, 93 percent say they have positive views of the traditional meal, including 77 percent who say so ‘strongly.’”
“Strongly.” That one made me laugh. For added yuks, here’s their “data” in tabular form.Are we being punked?
Well, in any case, enjoy your Thanksgiving. The blog and I are taking the long weekend off. We will relax, eat too much, and return at least slightly refreshed next week. Here’s hoping Monday’s post won’t be too bloated.
I wish the same to you and yours. Happy Thanksgiving.
This afternoon, Arizona Vice Chief Justice Andrew Hurwitz was nominated to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Barack Obama.
President Obama said, “Justice Hurwitz has proven himself to be not only a first-rate legal mind but a faithful public servant. It is with full confidence in his ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate him to the bench of the United States Court of Appeals.”
AZ Attorney 