One of the massively under reported stories throughout this recession is the economic fallout’s impact on the legal profession. For example, in New York, many of the biggest firms in the country have been continually laying off lawyers since 2008 to cut costs. Many of these lawyers are top graduates from Ivy League schools. More recently, small firms have been forced to lay off lawyers and support staff.
Lawjobs.com recently published an article pointing out that according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector lost another 500 jobs in March, bringing the estimated total of legal jobs lost since March 2009 up to 31, 300. That doesn’t include the tens of thousands of other legal jobs lost prior to March 2009. According to The Wall Street Journal, “even if a full-blown economic recovery is under way, the perks that old jobs once bestowed may never return.”
President Obama believes that the recent passage of Arizona legislation intended to stem illegal immigration is “misguided.” Has he even read the bill? If he has, he knows the bill merely gives state law enforcement the ability to enforce preexisting federal law.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding what the bill actually does. It seems that the main stream media has been reduced to a forum of talking points for the White House.
A reading of the bill clearly shows that it merely gives state law enforcement the ability to enforce preexisting federal law:
A. NO OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY ADOPT A POLICY THAT LIMITS OR RESTRICTS THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS TO LESS THAN THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY FEDERAL LAW.
Additionally, law enforcement cannot arbitrarily stop individuals. First, law enforcement must possess “reasonable suspicion” to stop someone or delve into their immigration status before they can commence an investigation. “Reasonable suspicion” is a legal phrase requiring specific and articulable facts by the officer. An example would be if an officer detains someone on suspicion of possessing drugs, he must be able to state the several facts that led him to believe the individual was in possession.
B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON’S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
Contrary to popular belief, the bill does not endorse nor encourage racial profiling. Because an officer must have “reasonable suspicion” before stopping an individual, the officer can only delve into an individual’s legal status upon arrest or to run an individual’s driver’s license.
These steps are not any different from current operating procedures, except that in addition to the standard checks run on a person, state law enforcement is required to check with United States Immigration Customs regarding the person’s legal status.
If the person is in the country illegally, ICE must be contacted and the person is turned over to federal authorities.
What’s the big deal?? If it is illegal to be here illegally, why is everyone making such a stink about Arizona exercising its sovereign police powers to enforce preexisting federal law? There’s no preemption issue here. It’s Arizona and not D.C. that must deal with the social and economic ramifications associated with illegal immigration. If Obama and Congress disagree with their own immigration laws, then the laws should be repealed; not selectively enforced.
I haven’t posted much in recent weeks due to a mega busy weekly schedule. I have a few upcoming posts in the chute, but in the mean time I thought I’d share a helpful and wonderful website called GasBuddy.com.
In these tough economic times, with layoffs, fewer working hours, and increasing food and gas prices, many of us are doing everything we can to save what little money we have in any way possible.
My current jobs (yes, unfortunately I am working more than one job at the moment) require lots of commuting, so I’m constantly looking for ways to save on gas.
Along comes GasBuddy.com, an up-to-date resource that helps you finding the cheapest gas in your area. All you need to do is type in the area code where you want to fill up and a list of gas stations appear with priority given to the cheapest stations.
Not sure how to get the station? No problem, next to the gas station is a tab you can click that will provide driving directions from your current location to the station.
The coolest function about GasBuddy.com are their free apps for mobile phones and iPhones, allowing you the ability to access up-to-date information while on the road.
This free, easy to use service is a must have for road trips and vacations.
Due to popular demand, listed below are the topics tested on the Washington state bar, along with typical cross-over subjects, and a few sample questions from previous bar exams.
Posted by TimSutherlandLaw 
