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To Become A Pro Bono Volunteer
in: San Fransisco Boston Refugees Special
Projects Pro
Bono Attorneys
Lawyers
Making a Difference
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Special Projects Lawyers have also written amicus briefs and handled special projects with the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. Learn more about the following firms making a difference:
Second Circuit: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the case of Diallo v. INS seeking to overturn a “precedent” decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals which has unduly heightened the burden of proof in asylum cases and is inconsistent with U.S. law and international standards. The Lawyers Committee was represented by Steven J. Kolleeny and Jennifer A. Ferrante of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The petitioner was represented by Ogden N. Lewis and Michael Dion of Davis Polk & Wardwell. The brief was filed in March 2000.
Third Circuit: The Lawyers Committee filed an amicus brief in the case of Abdulai v. Reno with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The case involves the same critical burden of proof issue as the Diallo case. The Lawyers Committee was represented by Richard W. Hill, Brenda C. Liss, and Anthony F. Yacullo of McCarter & English. The brief was filed in June 2000.
Eleventh Circuit: The Lawyers Committee, along with the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, filed an amicus brief in the case of Elian Gonzalez v. Reno. The amicus brief, which was submitted in support of neither side, expressed concern about the unduly broad sweep of discretion that the District Court decision below had afforded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The brief also addressed the broader issue of the right of children to apply for asylum under both U.S. and international law. The Lawyers Committee was represented by Mark D. Beckett, Martin N. Flics, and Jeffrey A. Tochner of Latham & Watkins. The brief was filed in April 2000, and the Eleventh Circuit’s May 2000 decision made clear that children can indeed apply for asylum and was much more circumspect in the level of discretion it afforded to decisions of the INS.
Board of Immigration Appeals: The Lawyers Committee
filed an amicus brief
in Matter of Mkhizi, a case that was pending before the
Board of Immigration Appeals. The brief addressed several issues
relating to the fairness of the conduct of the expedited removal
procedures. The Lawyers Committee was represented by Melvyn L. Cantor
and Tracy M. Flynn of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Mr. Mkhizi
was represented by Elizabeth Wolstein and Katherine Cooperman of
Kramer Levin Neftalis & Frankel. The brief was filed in June
2000. In November 2000, the Board granted Mr. Mkhizi’s asylum
claim. After 3 ½ years in detention, he finally won his freedom.
Chadbourne & Parke LLP - U.S. government breaches of confidentiality obligations with asylum claims Debevoise & Plimpton - Comparison of detention practices for asylum seekers in countries around the world Lowenstein Sandler PC and Yale Law Clinic - Project involving interdiction Shearman & Sterling - Assessing the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Immigration Court’s cooperation with pro bono counsel. Survey to Help Improve INS and Immigration Court Cooperation with Pro Bono Attorneys. |
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