In re Garcia on Admission ( 2014 )

Filed 1/2/14
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
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In re SERGIO C. GARCIA on Admission. ) S202512
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The Committee of Bar Examiners (Committee) — the entity within the
State Bar of California (State Bar) that administers the California bar examination,
investigates the qualifications of bar applicants, and certifies to this court
candidates it finds qualified for admission to the State Bar — has submitted the
name of Sergio C. Garcia (hereafter Garcia or applicant) for admission to the State
Bar. In conjunction with its certification, the Committee has brought to the court‟s
attention the fact that Garcia‟s current immigration status is that of an
undocumented immigrant,1 and has noted that the question whether an
1 In this opinion, we use the term “undocumented immigrant” to refer to a
non-United States citizen who is in the United States but who lacks the
immigration status required by federal law to be lawfully present in this country
and who has not been admitted on a temporary basis as a nonimmigrant. This
category of persons has sometimes been referred to by other terms, such as
unlawful, unauthorized, or illegal aliens or immigrants. Although no shorthand
term may be perfect, the United States Supreme Court and the California
Legislature have at times used the term “undocumented immigrants” to refer to
this category of persons (see Mohawk Industries v. Carpenter (2009) 558 U.S.
100, 103 [“undocumented immigrants”]; Stats. 2001, ch. 814, § 1, subd. (a)(4),
p. 6653 [“undocumented immigrant students”]; Stats. 2002, ch. 19, § 1,
subd. (a)(4), p. 199 [same]), and this terminology avoids the potential
problematical connotations of alternative terms. (See generally Legomsky,
Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy (4th ed. 2005) pp. 9-11, 1192-1193.)
(Footnote continued on next page.)
1
undocumented immigrant may be admitted to the State Bar is an issue that has not
previously been addressed or decided by this court. We issued an order to show
cause in this matter to address the question.
Our order to show cause requested briefing on a number of issues raised by
the Committee‟s motion to admit Garcia to the State Bar, including the proper
interpretation of a federal statute — section 1621 of title 8 of the United States
Code (hereafter section 1621) — that generally restricts an undocumented
immigrant‟s eligibility to obtain a professional license but that also contains a
subsection expressly authorizing a state to render an undocumented immigrant
eligible to obtain such a professional license through the enactment of a state law
meeting specified requirements. Very shortly after we held oral argument in this
matter, the California Legislature enacted a statute that was intended to satisfy this
aspect of section 1621 and the Governor signed that legislation into law. (Bus. &
Prof. Code, § 6064, subd. (b); Stats. 2013, ch. 573, § 1, enacting Assem. Bill
No. 1024 (2013-2014 Reg. Sess.) as amended Sept. 6, 2013.) The new legislation
became effective on January 1, 2014.
In light of the recently enacted state legislation, we conclude that the
Committee‟s motion to admit Garcia to the State Bar should be granted. The new
legislation removes any potential statutory obstacle to Garcia‟s admission posed
by section 1621, and there is no other federal statute that purports to preclude a
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
Current federal immigration statutes generally use the term “nonimmigrant” to
refer to a person who “enter[s] the U.S. for a temporary period and [is] restricted
to activities consistent with [his or her] visa.” (Kurzban, Immigration Law
Sourcebook (13th ed. 2012) p. 759; see 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a) (15)(A)-(V) [listing
numerous categories of “nonimmigrant aliens”].)
2
state from granting a license to practice law to an undocumented immigrant. The
new statute also reflects that the Legislature and the Governor have concluded that
the admission of an undocumented immigrant who has met all the qualifications
for admission to the State Bar is fully consistent with this state‟s public policy,
and, as this opinion explains, we find no basis to disagree with that conclusion.
Finally, we agree with the Committee‟s determination that Garcia possesses the
requisite good moral character to warrant admission to the State Bar and, pursuant
to our constitutional authority, grant the Committee‟s motion to admit Garcia to
the State Bar.
I. Summary of Facts and State Bar Proceedings
The record before us indicates that applicant Garcia was born in Villa
Jimenez, Mexico, on March 1, 1977. When he was 17 months old, his parents
brought him to California, without inspection or documentation by immigration
officials. He lived in California until 1986 (when he was nine years old) and then
he and his parents moved back to Mexico. In 1994, when Garcia was 17 years
old, he and his parents returned to California; again Garcia entered the country
without documentation. At that time, Garcia‟s father had obtained lawful
permanent resident status in the United States pursuant to federal immigration law,
and on November 18, 1994, his father filed an immigration visa petition (form I-
130 [petition for alien relative]) on Garcia‟s behalf.2 The petition was accepted by
federal immigration officials on January 31, 1995. Under federal immigration
law, the visa petition provides Garcia with a basis to apply for adjustment of his
immigration status to that of a lawful permanent resident when an immigrant visa
2 Garcia‟s father became a United States citizen on August 11, 1999, after
Garcia had turned 18 years old.
3
number becomes available. Under current provisions of federal immigration law,
however, the number of available immigrant visas that may be issued each year is
limited and is based upon an applicant‟s country of origin. Because the current
backlog of persons of Mexican origin who are seeking immigrant visas is so large,
as of the date of this opinion — more than 19 years after Garcia‟s visa petition was
filed — a visa number still has not become available for Garcia.3
Garcia has resided in California without interruption since 1994. During
this period of time, he graduated from high school, attended Butte College,
California State University at Chico, and Cal Northern School of Law. He
received his law degree from Cal Northern School of Law in May 2009, and took
and passed the July 2009 California bar examination.
3 The current United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Web site explains: “USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a
visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first
step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members
must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an
immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.”
( [as of Jan. 2, 2014] [explaining purpose of form].)
Another page on the Web site states: “For alien relatives in preference categories,
a limited number of immigrant visas are issued each year. The visas are processed
in the order in which the petitions are properly filed and accepted by USCIS.”
(Instructions for Form I-130 (Dec. 18, 2012) p. 6 [OMB No. 1615-0012]
[as of Jan. 2, 2014].)
When visited on December 31, 2013, a visa bulletin Web page
() indicated that as
of December 2013 the cutoff date for Mexico family preference (F-1) visas was
September 22, 1993, meaning that persons in Garcia‟s category (Mexican family
members with first preference) were eligible to be scheduled for a visa interview if
their priority date was earlier than September 22, 1993. Based upon the date his
visa petition was filed, Garcia‟s priority date is November 18, 1994. If the
progression of available visa numbers over the past few years is a reliable guide,
Garcia‟s priority date may not be reached for at least two and perhaps many more
years and only then could he be scheduled for a visa interview.
4
In response to questions on the State Bar‟s application for determination of
moral character, Garcia indicated that he is not a United States citizen and that his
immigration status is “Pending.”4 The Committee conducted an extensive
investigation of Garcia‟s background, employment history, and past activities,
received numerous reference letters supporting Garcia‟s application and attesting
to his outstanding moral character and significant contributions to the community,
and ultimately determined that Garcia possessed the requisite good moral
character to qualify for admission to the State Bar.5
4 Although the Committee‟s briefs do not disclose when it began asking bar
applicants about their immigration status, an amicus curiae brief filed by numerous
local bar associations states that the State Bar began requesting such information
from new applicants in 2008.
5 The Committee‟s investigation establishes that Garcia is a well-respected,
hard-working, tax-paying individual who has assisted many others and whose
application is supported by many members of the community, by past teachers,
and by those for whom he has worked, but the record also reveals that Garcia‟s
conduct has not been entirely flawless.
Shortly after returning to this country at age 17, Garcia obtained a
nonpaying position in a grocery store as part of a school work training program.
After several months, the store manager asked Garcia if he would like to continue
working at the store in a paid position. As part of the hiring process, having
initially provided his school identification card and Social Security number,
Garcia was asked several days later to fill out an additional employment form; on
that form Garcia provided a false “alien registration number” and falsely attested
that he was a lawful permanent resident. Although he did not remember the
contents of the form when first asked about his grocery store employment during
the Committee‟s moral character investigation, Garcia thereafter went to the
grocery store staff, discovered the document in question, and immediately gave it
to his attorney who was representing him on a pro bono basis. On his attorney‟s
advice Garcia did not immediately provide the document to the Committee (on the
theory that disclosure was not necessary because it did not refresh Garcia‟s
recollection); thereafter the attorney provided the document to the Committee,
explicitly acknowledged that she had been wrong in advising Garcia that
disclosure was not necessary and requested that the Committee not hold against
Garcia the fact that he had followed counsel‟s advice. When questioned by the
(Footnote continued on next page.)
5
Thereafter, in connection with its motion submitting Garcia‟s name to this
court for admission to the State Bar, the Committee brought to this court‟s
attention the fact that Garcia “does not have legal immigration status in the United
States” and noted that, to its knowledge, “this is a case of first impression, as we
are not aware of any other jurisdiction that has ever knowingly admitted an
undocumented alien to the practice of law.” The Committee also pointed out “that
there are additional applicants currently working their way through the admissions
process with similar immigration issues.”6
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
Committee concerning his provision of a false alien registration number and false
attestation on the employment form, Garcia acknowledged the wrongfulness of his
conduct, but explained that at the time he signed the document he was young, had
an imperfect comprehension of English, and had “panicked” when asked to
complete the form. He emphasized that he had never subsequently signed a
similar document and would not sign a similar document at present. The
Committee believed that Garcia was sincerely remorseful for his past misconduct
and that his delay in disclosing the document was a product of his reliance upon
the erroneous advice of counsel, and concluded that under the circumstances the
conduct did not reflect moral turpitude.
The record also reveals that Garcia was once cited for driving without a
license or insurance (an infraction), paid the fine, stopped driving, and thereafter
sought and ultimately obtained a driver‟s license in Oregon. At the time, Oregon
did not require proof of lawful residency, but did require a six-month residency
period; Garcia lived with relatives in Oregon for some period of time, but it is not
entirely clear from the record whether he actually resided in Oregon for a full six
months before obtaining the license. The Committee found that Garcia obtained
the Oregon driver‟s license in good faith, having a subjective belief that he met the
Oregon residency requirements.
As explained, the Committee investigated these matters at length. It
determined that none of these incidents impugns Garcia‟s good moral character,
and that the record as a whole establishes that Garcia possesses the requisite good
moral character to warrant admission to the State Bar.
6 While this matter was pending before our court, the Committee submitted
the names of two other undocumented immigrant applicants for admission to the
(Footnote continued on next page.)
6
In response to the Committee‟s motion, we issued an order directing the
Committee “to show cause before this court why its motion for admission of
Sergio C. Garcia to the State Bar of California should be granted.” Our order set
forth a number of issues to be addressed, including several related to the
relevance, interpretation, and significance of the federal statute noted earlier,
namely section 1621.7 In addition, our order invited the filing of applications for
permission to file an amicus curiae brief, either in support of or opposition to the
motion, and, in particular, invited such applications from the State of California
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
State Bar. (See In re Elizabeth Y. De la Torre Arambula on Admission (S208655);
In re Oscar Espino-Padron on Admission (S208656).) The former matter has
been held in abeyance pending the resolution of the current matter. In the latter
matter, upon notification that the applicant was granted asylum by federal
immigration authorities while the matter was pending in this court, we granted the
Committee‟s motion to admit the applicant to practice law in California. (See 8
U.S.C. §§ 1621(a)(1), 1641(b)(1) [excepting individuals who have been granted
asylum from the restrictions imposed by § 1621].)
7 The order stated in this regard: “The following are among the issues that
should be briefed:
“1. Does 8 U.S.C. section [1621(c)] apply and preclude this court‟s
admission of an undocumented immigrant to the State Bar of California? Does
any other statute, regulation, or authority preclude the admission?
“2. Is there any state legislation that provides — as specifically authorized
by 8 U.S.C. section [1621(d)] — that undocumented immigrants are eligible for
professional licenses in fields such as law, medicine, or other professions, and, if
not, what significance, if any, should be given to the absence of such legislation?
“3. Does the issuance of a license to practice law impliedly represent that
the licensee may be legally employed as an attorney?
“4. If licensed, what are the legal and public policy limitations, if any, on
an undocumented immigrant‟s ability to practice law?
“5. What, if any, other public policy concerns arise with a grant of this
application?”
7
Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General and the United States
Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General.
In response to our order, the Committee and Garcia filed separate briefs in
support of the motion for admission of Garcia to the State Bar. In addition, the
California Attorney General as well as a large number of organizations and
individuals filed amicus curiae briefs supporting the motion for Garcia‟s
admission.8 The United States Department of Justice and two individuals filed
amicus curiae briefs in opposition to the motion. The Committee and Garcia then
filed separate replies to the amicus curiae briefs opposing the motion.
We held oral argument in this matter on September 4, 2013. On
September 6, 2013, a pending bill — Assembly Bill No.1024 (2013-2014 Reg.
Sess.) — was amended in its entirety and its contents were replaced by a new
provision adding Business and Professions Code section 6064, subdivision (b)
(hereafter section 6064(b)), authorizing this court to admit as an attorney at law
“an applicant who is not lawfully present in the United States [who] has fulfilled
the requirements for admission to practice law . . . .”9 Assembly Bill No. 1024, as
amended on September 6, 2013, was quickly passed by overwhelming majorities
in both the state Senate and state Assembly,10 and was enrolled and presented to
8 In addition to the amicus curiae brief filed by the California Attorney
General, 13 amicus curiae briefs were filed in support of the motion.
9 Section 6064(b) provides in full: “Upon certification by the examining
committee that an applicant who is not lawfully present in the United States has
fulfilled the requirements for admission to practice law, the Supreme Court may
admit that applicant as an attorney at law in all the courts of this state and may
direct an order to be entered upon its records to that effect. A certificate of
admission thereupon shall be given to the applicant by the clerk of the court.”
10 The bill was approved in the Senate by a 29-to-5 vote and in the Assembly
by a 62-to-4 vote.
8
the Governor on September 26, 2013. The Governor signed the bill into law on
October 5, 2013. Pursuant to article IV, section 8, subdivision (c) of the California
Constitution, the new statute — section 6064(b) — became effective on January 1,
2014.
After the legislation enacting section 6064(b) was signed into law, we
vacated submission in this matter and indicated that the matter would be
resubmitted on January 2, 2014, after the new statute took effect. At our request,
the parties and amici curiae have filed supplemental briefs addressing the effect of
the new statute on the matter before us.
II. State and Federal Authority Regarding Eligibility of
Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain a License to Practice Law in
California
As a general matter, the question whether an applicant should be admitted
to the State Bar and thereby obtain a license to practice law in California is
governed by state law. In California, the general requirements and standards for
admission to the State Bar are set forth both in statutory provisions enacted by the
Legislature (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6060 et seq.) and in court rules that are
promulgated by this court (see, e.g., Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.30 [Rules on Law
Practice, Attorneys and Judges]; see also Rules of the State Bar of Cal., tit. 4, rules
4.1 to 4.269 [Admissions and Educational Standards]). Although both the
Legislature and this court possess the authority to establish rules regulating
admission to the State Bar, under the California Constitution this court bears the
ultimate responsibility and authority for determining the issue of admission. (See,
e.g., Hustedt v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd. (1981) 30 Cal. 3d 329, 336-337 [“In
California, the power to regulate the practice of law, including the power to admit
and to discipline attorneys, has long been recognized to be among the inherent
powers of the article VI courts. Indeed, every state in the United States recognizes
9
that the power to admit and to discipline attorneys rests in the judiciary” (fn.
omitted)]; In re Lavine (1935) 2 Cal. 2d 324, 328 [“[N]otwithstanding the inherent
power of the courts to admit applicants for licenses to practice law it is generally
conceded that the legislature may prescribe reasonable rules and regulations for
admission to the bar which will be followed by the courts. The regulations so
prescribed must . . . be reasonable and shall not deprive the judicial branch of its
power to prescribe additional conditions under which applicants shall be admitted,
nor take from the courts the right and duty of actually making orders admitting
them.”].)11
Although the determination whether an applicant will be admitted to the
State Bar is generally governed by state law, there are circumstances in which the
issue of bar admission is controlled by federal law. Perhaps the most obvious
circumstance arises when a state law relating to bar admission contravenes a
provision of the United States Constitution. Thus, for example, in Raffaelli v.
Committee of Bar Examiners (1972) 7 Cal. 3d 288, we held that a California
statutory provision that limited admission to the State Bar only to applicants who
were United States citizens (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6060, former subd. (a), amended
by Stats. 1972, ch. 1285, § 4.3, p. 2559) could not be applied because it violated
the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. (Raffaelli, supra, at
pp. 294-304; see also In re Griffiths (1973) 413 U.S. 717 [reaching same
conclusion as Raffaelli].)
11 The Committee makes recommendations to this court regarding the
admission of individual applicants (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6046), but this court
makes the ultimate decision on admission pursuant to the court‟s constitutional
authority over the practice of law in California. (See, e.g., Brydonjack v. State Bar
(1929) 208 Cal. 439, 445-446.)
10
Under the supremacy clause of the federal Constitution, however, state law
must give way to lawfully adopted federal statutes as well as to provisions of the
federal Constitution. (U.S. Const., art. VI, cl. 2 [“This Constitution, and the laws
of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof . . . shall be the
supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any
thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding”
(italics added)].) Thus, when a federal statute has been adopted pursuant to
authority granted to Congress under the federal Constitution, the federal statute
preempts any conflicting state law.
As relevant to the issue presented by this case, past decisions of the United
States Supreme Court clearly establish that the federal government generally has
“plenary authority” over matters relating to immigration (including limitations on
the conduct or activities of non-United States citizens who are present in this
country without legal authorization or documentation) and that provisions of
federal law relating to immigration prevail over any conflicting state law. (See,
e.g., Arizona v. United States (2012) 567 U.S. ___, ___ [183 L. Ed. 2d 351, 366-
369]; Takahashi v. Fish Comm’n. (1948) 334 U.S. 410, 419; Hines v. Davidowitz
(1941) 312 U.S. 52, 62-74.) Accordingly, even with respect to matters that
ordinarily and historically are an appropriate subject of state regulation — such as
a state‟s granting or denial of a license to practice law in the state — when the
federal government has enacted a law restricting the right of a non-United States
citizen to obtain such a professional license, under the supremacy clause the
applicable federal statute will necessarily take precedence and prevail over any
conflicting state law. (Arizona v. United States, supra, at p. ___ [183 L.Ed.2d at
p. 368]; Hines v. Davidowitz, supra, at pp. 62-63 [“[w]hen the national
government by treaty or statute has established rules and regulations touching the
rights, privileges, obligations or burdens of aliens as such, the treaty or statute is
11
the supreme law of the land. No state can add to or take from the force and effect
of such treaty or statute . . . .”]; accord, Ellen S. v. Florida Bd. of Bar Examiners
(S.D.Fla. 1994) 859 F. Supp. 1489 [holding that federal Americans with
Disabilities Act applies to a state‟s bar admission process].)
For this reason, in analyzing the legal issues presented by Garcia‟s
application, we turn first to the potential restriction imposed by federal law with
regard to Garcia‟s application, before addressing any state law issues that are
implicated by the Committee‟s motion.
III. Does the Federal Statute That Limits an Undocumented
Immigrant’s Eligibility to Obtain a State-provided Professional
License — Section 1621 — Restrict Garcia’s Eligibility to Obtain a
License to Practice Law in California?
Section 1621 was enacted by Congress in 1996 as part of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub.L.
No. 104-193 (Aug. 21, 1996) 110 Stat. 2105) (hereafter 1996 Act), a lengthy
legislative measure — combining and revising provisions contained in numerous
bills that had been introduced and considered in prior congressional sessions —
that was primarily concerned with comprehensive welfare reform. The 1996 Act
imposed additional work requirements on recipients of federal welfare benefits
and made other very significant changes to a wide range of federal programs
dealing with, for example, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, child
support payments, child care, child nutrition, and job training. The 1996 Act
includes over 900 sections and, as published in the United States Statutes at Large,
runs more than 250 pages. (110 Stat. 2105-2355.) Section 1621, the statutory
provision at issue here, is contained in title IV of the 1996 Act, a part of the act
entitled “Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens.”
12
A. Overview of the language of section 1621
1. Section 1621(a)
Section 1621(a) provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law and
except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) of this section, an alien who is not —
[¶] (1) a qualified alien (as defined in section 1641 of this title),[12] [¶] (2) a
nonimmigrant under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.],
or [¶] (3) an alien who is paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of
such Act [8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)] for less than one year, [¶] is not eligible for any
State or local public benefit (as defined in subsection (c) of this section).”
There is no dispute that an undocumented immigrant, like Garcia, does not
fall within any of the three exempt categories listed in section 1621(a), and thus,
under section 1621(a), an undocumented immigrant is not eligible for “any State
or local public benefit” as defined in section 1621(c), subject to the exceptions set
forth in section 1621(b) and 1621(d).
12 Title 8 United States Code section 1641 defines the term “qualified alien”
to mean “(1) an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the
Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.], [¶] (2) an alien who is
granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1158], [¶] (3) a refugee
who is admitted to the United States under section 207 of such Act [8
U.S.C. 1157], [¶] (4) an alien who is paroled into the United States under section
212(d)(5) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)] for a period of at least 1 year, [¶]
(5) an alien whose deportation is being withheld under section 243(h) of such Act
[8 U.S.C. 1253(h)] . . . or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [8 U.S.C. 1251(b)(3)] . . . ,
[¶] (6) an alien who is granted conditional entry pursuant to section 203(a)(7) of
such Act [8 U.S.C. 1153(a)(7)] as in effect prior to April 1, 1980; or [¶] (7) an
alien who is a Cuban [or] Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the
Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980).” (Fn. omitted.)
13
2. Section 1621(c)
Section 1621(c), in turn, provides: “(1) Except as provided in paragraphs
(2) and (3), for purposes of this subchapter the term „State or local public benefit‟
means — [¶] (A) any grant, contract, loan, professional license, or commercial
license provided by an agency of a State or local government or by appropriated
funds of a State or local government; and [¶] (B) any retirement, welfare, health,
disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance,
unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or
assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an
agency of a State or local government or by appropriated funds of a State or local
government. [¶] (2) Such terms shall not apply — [¶] (A) to any contract,
professional license, or commercial license for a nonimmigrant whose visa for
entry is related to such employment in the United States, or to a citizen of a freely
associated state, if section 141 of the applicable compact of free association
approved in Public Law 99-239 or 99-658 (or a successor provision) is in effect;
[¶] (B) with respect to benefits for an alien who as a work authorized
nonimmigrant or as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the
Immigration and Nationality Act . . . qualified for such benefits and for whom the
United States under reciprocal treaty agreements is required to pay benefits, as
determined by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General;
or [¶] (C) to the issuance of a professional license to, or the renewal of a
professional license by, a foreign national not physically present in the United
States. [¶] (3) Such term does not include any Federal public benefit under
section 1611(c) of this title.” (8 U.S.C. § 1621(c).)
The initial round of briefing in this matter, filed prior to the enactment of
the new state legislation, focused primarily upon the proper interpretation of the
portion of section 1621(c)(1)(A) that defines “State or local public benefit” for
14
purposes of this statute to include “[a]ny grant, contract, loan, professional license,
or commercial license provided by an agency of a State or local government or by
appropriated funds of a State or local government.” (Italics added.) The
Committee and Garcia asserted that the italicized language does not encompass a
law license that is issued by this court.
3. Section 1621(b) and 1621(d)
As noted, section 1621(b) and 1621(d) set forth exceptions to the general
restrictions imposed by section 1621(a). Section 1621(b) lists a number of
specific types of benefits to which section 1621 does not apply, but none of those
benefits are relevant to the issue before us in this matter.13
The exception embodied in section 1621(d), on the other hand, is directly
relevant to the issue before us. Section 1621(d) provides in full: “A State may
provide that an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States is eligible for
any State or local public benefit for which such alien would otherwise be
13 Section 1621(b) provides that the restriction on eligibility set forth in
section 1621(a) shall not apply to the following state or local public benefits:
“(1) Assistance for health care items and services that are necessary for the
treatment of an emergency medical condition (as defined in section 1396b(v)(3) of
title 42) of the alien involved and are not related to an organ transplant procedure.
[¶] (2) Short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief. [¶] (3) Public
health assistance for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases and for
testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such
symptoms are caused by a communicable disease. [¶] (4) Programs, services, or
assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-
term shelter) specified by the Attorney General, in the Attorney General‟s sole and
unreviewable discretion after consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and
departments, which (A) deliver in-kind services at the community level, including
through public or private nonprofit agencies; (B) do not condition the provision of
assistance, the amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance provided on
the individual recipient‟s income or resources; and (C) are necessary for the
protection of life or safety.” (8 U.S.C. § 1621(b).)
15
ineligible under subsection (a) of this section only through the enactment of a
State law after August 22, 1996, which affirmatively provides for such eligibility.”
The Committee and Garcia maintain that the recent legislation passed by
the California Legislature and signed by the Governor enacting section 6064(b)
satisfies the federal requirements set forth in section 1621(d) and thus removes any
obstacle this federal statute would otherwise pose to this court‟s admission of
Garcia to the State Bar. As discussed below, we agree with this contention.
B. Has California enacted a law affirmatively providing that
undocumented immigrants are eligible to obtain a professional
license to practice law in California so as to satisfy the
requirements of section 1621(d)?
As noted above, in the initial round of briefing the Committee and Garcia
maintained that, in light of the specific language in section 1621(c)(1)(A) defining
the term “State or local public benefit” to mean “any . . . professional license . . .
provided by an agency of a State or local government or by appropriated funds of
a State or local government” (italics added), that section should not be interpreted
to render an undocumented immigrant ineligible to obtain a license to practice law
in California. The Committee and Garcia argued that the first clause of section
1621(c)(1)(A) — referring to any professional license “provided by an agency of a
State or local government” — applies only to a professional license that is issued
by a state or local administrative agency and does not apply to a law license that is
issued by this court. The Committee and Garcia asserted that the second clause of
section 1621(c)(1)(A) — referring to public benefits provided by “appropriated
funds of a State . . . government” — is inapplicable to this court‟s issuance of a
law license either because the amount of funds expended by this court in the bar
admission process should be considered “de minimis” or because the clause
should be interpreted to refer only to public benefits that involve the payment of
16
money or funds to undocumented immigrants and not to the issuance of a license
to practice law.
In light of the recent enactment of California‟s section 6064(b), we need
not determine the validity of the parties‟ contentions with regard to the proper
interpretation of section 1621(c)(1)(A). Under section 1621(d), the restrictions
imposed upon undocumented immigrants by section 1621(a) and 1621(c)(1)(A)
are inapplicable if a state enacts a law that (1) renders undocumented immigrants
eligible for a public benefit that undocumented immigrants would otherwise be
ineligible to obtain under section 1621(a) and section 1621(c) and (2) otherwise
satisfies the requirements of section 1621(d). Accordingly, we turn to the question
whether the enactment of section 6064(b) satisfies the requirements of section
1621(d).
As noted, section 1621(d) reads in full: “A State may provide that an alien
who is not lawfully present in the United States is eligible for any State or local
public benefit for which such alien would otherwise be ineligible under subsection
(a) of this section only through the enactment of a State law after August 22, 1996
[the date section 1621(d) was enacted], which affirmatively provides for such
eligibility.”
Section 1621(d) grants a state the authority to make undocumented
immigrants eligible for the types of public benefits for which such persons would
otherwise be ineligible under section 1621(a) and 1621(c). But under section
1621(d), a state may make undocumented immigrants eligible for such benefits
only through the enactment of a law, adopted subsequent to the date section
1621(d) was enacted, that “affirmatively provides” that undocumented immigrants
are eligible for such benefits.
This court had occasion to address the provisions of section 1621(d) in
Martinez v. Regents of University of California (2010) 50 Cal. 4th 1277, 1294-
17
1296 (Martinez). In Martinez, we found that section 68130.5 of the Education
Code — a statute enacted in 2001 that explicitly exempted “a person without
lawful immigration status” from paying nonresidential tuition at the California
State University and California community colleges — satisfied the provisions of
section 1621(d) and thus rendered undocumented immigrants eligible to obtain
such a public benefit. (Martinez, supra, at p. 1295.)
In reaching this conclusion in Martinez, our opinion held that (1) the
wording of Education Code section 68130.5, subdivision (a)(4) itself (which
provided that the statute applied “[i]n the case of a person without lawful
immigration status”), and (2) the wording of the uncodified portion of the
legislation (which stated that “[t]his act . . . allows all persons, including
undocumented immigrant students who meet [prescribed] requirements . . . , to be
exempt from nonresident tuition in California‟s colleges and universities” [Stats.
2001, ch. 814, § 1, subd. (a)(4), pp. 6652-6653]) was sufficient to demonstrate that
this statutory provision “affirmatively provides” that qualifying undocumented
immigrants are eligible for the nonresident tuition exemption so as to satisfy the
requirements of section 1621(d). (Martinez, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 1295.) We
rejected the contention that in order to satisfy section 1621(d) a state law was
required to explicitly refer to section 1621(d) itself and to indicate that it was
enacted pursuant to that federal statute, concluding instead that in order to satisfy
the “ „affirmatively provides‟ requirement” it was sufficient that the state law in
question “ „expressly state that it applies to undocumented aliens, rather than
conferring a benefit generally without specifying that its beneficiaries may include
undocumented aliens.‟ ” (Martinez, supra, at p. 1296.)14
14 In reaching the contrary conclusion that a specific reference, within the
state statute, to section 1621(d) itself was required to satisfy the federal provision,
(Footnote continued on next page.)
18
In light of our interpretation of section 1621(d) in Martinez, supra, 50
Cal. 4th 1277, it is clear that the enactment of section 6064(b) satisfies the
requirements of this federal statute. First, section 6064(b) was enacted after
August 22, 1996. Second, by explicitly authorizing a bar applicant “who is not
lawfully present in the United States” to obtain a law license, the statute expressly
states that it applies to undocumented immigrants — rather than conferring a
benefit generally without specifying that its beneficiaries may include
undocumented immigrants — and thus “affirmatively provides” that
undocumented immigrants may obtain such a professional license so as to satisfy
the requirements of section 1621(d). (Martinez, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 1295.)
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
the Court of Appeal opinion in Martinez had relied upon a statement contained in
a portion of the conference committee report on the 1996 Act that discussed this
particular subsection. The conference committee report stated in this regard:
“Only the affirmative enactment of a law by a State legislature and signed by the
Governor after the date of enactment of this Act, that references this provision,
will meet the requirements of this section.” (H.R.Rep. No. 104-725, 2d Sess.,
p. 383 (1996), italics added.)
In rejecting the Court of Appeal‟s conclusion, our opinion in Martinez
explained that because a requirement that the state law explicitly refer to section
1621(d) was not contained in the language of section 1621(d) itself, such a
requirement could not properly be read into the statute. Noting that “[b]oth this
court and the high court have cautioned against reading into a statute language it
does not contain or elements that do not appear on its face” (Martinez, supra, 50
Cal.4th at p. 1295), the court in Martinez went on to observe that “[t]he general
rule that a court should not add an element not appearing on the face of a statute
has particular force here. The Legislature could easily have referenced section
1621 in section 68130.5, and no doubt it would have done so if section 1621 had
so required. It is unreasonable to conclude that Congress intended to require the
states to comply with section 1621‟s express requirements and to scour committee
reports for other possible requirements not visible in the statutory language. The
committee report may not create a requirement not found in section 1621 itself.”
(Id. at p. 1296.)
19
Accordingly, once section 6064(b) took effect on January 1, 2014, this enactment
removed any obstacle to Garcia‟s admission to the State Bar that was posed by
section 1621(a) and 1621(c)(1)(A).
The parties and amici curiae have not cited, and we are unaware of, any
other federal statute that would render an undocumented immigrant ineligible to
obtain a license to practice law in California.
IV. Are There Reasons, Under State Law, That the Committee’s
Motion to Admit Garcia to the State Bar Should be Denied?
Section 6064(b)‟s removal of any federal statutory barrier to Garcia‟s
admission to the State Bar posed by section 1621 does not fully resolve the legal
issues presented by the Committee‟s motion to admit Garcia to the State Bar. We
must still determine (1) whether there is any reason as a matter of state law why
undocumented immigrants, in general, should not be admitted to the State Bar, and
(2) whether there is any reason, specific to Garcia himself, that he should not be
admitted to the State Bar.
A. Is there any reason, under state law, that undocumented
immigrants, as a class or group, should not be admitted to the State
Bar?
Section 6064(b) reflects that the Legislature and the Governor have
concluded that there is no state law or state public policy that would justify
denying qualified undocumented immigrants, as a class, the opportunity to obtain
admission to the State Bar. As discussed earlier in this opinion, however, prior
decisions of this court make clear that this court, rather than the Legislature or
Governor, possesses the ultimate authority, and bears the ultimate responsibility,
to resolve questions of general policy relating to admission to the State Bar. (See,
e.g., Hustedt v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd., supra, 30 Cal. 3d 329, 336-337; In re
Lavine, supra, 2 Cal. 2d 324, 327-333; Brydonjack v. State Bar, supra, 208 Cal.
20
439, 442-446.) Nonetheless, in evaluating the relevant considerations of state
public policy in this setting, we believe it is appropriate to give due respect to the
judgment of the Legislature and the Governor as reflected in the recent enactment
of section 6064(b). (See, e.g., Hustedt v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd., at pp. 337-
338; In re Attorney Discipline System (1998) 19 Cal. 4th 582, 602-603.)
One of the amicus curiae briefs filed in opposition to Garcia‟s admission to
the State Bar advances a number of policy objections that potentially would apply
to the admission of any undocumented immigrant to the State Bar.15 The
objections relate to two circumstances: (1) the fact that, under federal law,
undocumented immigrants are not lawfully authorized to be present in this
country, and (2) the restrictions that federal law imposes upon the employment of
undocumented immigrants in the United States. We discuss each of these subjects
in turn.
1. Unlawful presence
Amicus curiae contends that because an undocumented immigrant is in
violation of federal immigration law simply by being present in this country
without authorization (8 U.S.C. §§ 1182, 1227), an undocumented immigrant
cannot properly take the oath of office required of every attorney, which requires
the individual to promise to “ „faithfully . . . discharge [the] duties of any attorney
at law‟ ” (quoting Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6067), including the duty “ „[t]o support
the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state.‟ ” (Quoting Bus.
15 In his amicus curiae brief, Attorney Larry DeSha describes himself as “a
retired former prosecutor for the State Bar of California” who “has more than 12
years experience in protecting the public from attorney misconduct . . . [and] was
the initial or final evaluator for more than 10,000 formal complaints of attorney
misconduct to the State Bar.”
21
& Prof. Code, § 6068, italics added by amicus curiae.) Amicus curiae reasons that
an undocumented immigrant cannot properly take the oath of office “since he will
be in violation of federal law while he takes the oath and at all times later until he
either becomes legal or leaves the United States.”
Past California cases, however, do not support the proposition, implicit in
amicus curiae‟s contention, that the fact that a bar applicant‟s past or present
conduct may violate some law invariably renders the applicant unqualified to be
admitted to the bar or to take the required oath of office. In Hallinan v. Committee
of Bar Examiners (1966) 65 Cal. 2d 447, 459, this court explained that “every
intentional violation of the law is not, ipso facto, grounds for excluding an
individual from membership in the legal profession. [Citations.] „There is certain
conduct involving fraud, perjury, theft, embezzlement, and bribery where there is
no question that moral turpitude is involved. On the other hand, because the law
does not always coincide exactly with principles of morality there are cases that
are crimes that would not necessarily involve moral turpitude.‟ [Citation.] In such
cases, investigation into the circumstances surrounding the commission of the act
must reveal some independent act beyond the bare fact of a criminal conviction to
show that the act demonstrates moral unfitness and justifies exclusion or other
disciplinary action by the bar.”
We conclude the fact that an undocumented immigrant is present in the
United States without lawful authorization does not itself involve moral turpitude
or demonstrate moral unfitness so as to justify exclusion from the State Bar, or
prevent the individual from taking an oath promising faithfully to discharge the
duty to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and California.
Although an undocumented immigrant‟s presence in this country is unlawful and
can result in a variety of civil sanctions under federal immigration law (such as
removal from the country or denial of a desired adjustment in immigration status)
22
(8 U.S.C. §§ 1227(a)(1)(B), 1255(i)), an undocumented immigrant‟s unauthorized
presence does not constitute a criminal offense under federal law and thus is not
subject to criminal sanctions. Moreover, federal law grants federal immigration
officials broad discretion in determining under what circumstances to seek to
impose civil sanctions upon an undocumented immigrant and in determining what
sanctions to pursue. (See, e.g., Arizona v. United States, supra, 567 U.S. ___, ___
[183 L. Ed. 2d 351, 366-367].) Under current federal immigration policy it is
extremely unlikely that immigration officials would pursue sanctions against an
undocumented immigrant who has been living in this country for a substantial
period of time, who has been educated here, and whose only unlawful conduct is
unlawful presence in this country.16 Under these circumstances, we conclude that
the fact that an undocumented immigrant‟s presence in this country violates
federal statutes is not itself a sufficient or persuasive basis for denying
undocumented immigrants, as a class, admission to the State Bar.17
16 See generally United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration
Enforcement Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and
Removal of Aliens, page 4 (listing 19 nonexclusive factors to be considered when
exercising prosecutorial discretion, including lengthy residence in this country and
successful pursuit of a college or advanced degree at a legitimate institution of
higher education in the U.S.) [as of Jan. 2, 2014].
17 Amicus curiae also advances a related argument, contending that because
federal law permits immigration officials to remove an undocumented immigrant
from this country on the basis of his or her unauthorized presence, the possibility
that an undocumented immigrant may be removed from the country and leave his
or her clients without representation is another reason that justifies the exclusion
of all undocumented immigrants from the State Bar. A similar argument was
advanced in Raffaelli v. Committee of Bar Examiners, supra, 7 Cal. 3d 288, as one
justification for excluding non-United States citizens from admission to the State
Bar, but this court rejected the contention, pointing out that the risk of such
(Footnote continued on next page.)
23
2. Employment restrictions
Amicus curiae further contends that it would be improper to grant a law
license to an undocumented immigrant in light of the restrictions federal law
places on the lawful employment of undocumented immigrants in the United
States.
In response to questions posed in our order to show cause in this matter
(see, ante, at p. 7, fn. 7), in the initial round of briefing the Committee, Garcia, and
many amici curiae, including the United States Department of Justice and the
California Attorney General, discussed the restrictions that federal law imposes
upon the employment of undocumented immigrants. All of the briefs agree that
even if an undocumented immigrant is granted a license to practice law, federal
law would prohibit an undocumented immigrant who lacks work authorization
from practicing law as an “employee” of a law firm, corporation, or governmental
entity. (See 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(1)(A).) There is also general agreement that a
licensed undocumented immigrant would not violate federal law if he or she
provided legal services on a pro bono basis or outside the United States. The
briefs disagree, however, regarding whether under current federal law a licensed
undocumented immigrant without work authorization could lawfully practice law
in this country as an “independent contractor,” for example, as a sole practitioner.
The briefs filed by the Committee and Garcia maintain that federal law would not
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
removal was no greater than “the possibility that a lawyer, even though a citizen,
may be involuntarily removed from his practice by death, by serious illness or
accident, by disciplinary suspension or disbarment or by conscription. In any of
the latter circumstances the client will undergo the same inconvenience of having
to obtain substitute counsel.” (Raffaelli, supra, at p. 299.)
24
bar a licensed undocumented immigrant from representing clients as a sole
practitioner, but the amicus curiae brief filed by the United States Department of
Justice states that federal law prohibits an undocumented immigrant who lacks
work authorization from engaging in the practice of law for compensation in this
country in any capacity, including as an independent contractor or sole
practitioner. Amicus curiae DeSha agrees with the United States Department of
Justice‟s interpretation of the applicable federal statute and maintains that this
court should not grant a law license to undocumented immigrants when federal
law prohibits such individuals from actually practicing law in California for
compensation.
The bill analysis of the recently enacted section 6064(b) that was prepared
for the Senate Judiciary Committee when it considered the bill at a hearing on
September 11, 2013, explicitly addressed the employability issue. Under the
heading “Ability to Represent California Clients,” the bill analysis states:
“Individuals not lawfully present in the United States who are admitted to the
California State Bar may be automatically disqualified from representing certain
clients and taking on some types of cases because of their immigration status. For
example, federal law may preclude attorneys not lawfully present in the U.S. from
representing others in matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services agency. [Citation.] These attorneys may also be precluded from working
for a law firm, corporation, or public agency by operation of federal law. (See 8
U.S.C. Sec. 1324a (prohibiting the employment of an alien in the United States
knowing the alien lacks work authorization).) [¶] However, the inability to
represent California residents in some legal matters does not necessarily preclude
all possible uses of a law license. Each person admitted to practice law in
California, irrespective of immigration status, is obligated to „faithfully . . .
discharge the duties of any attorney at law to the best of his [or her] knowledge
25
and ability.‟ (Bus. & Prof. Code, Sec. 6067.) California attorneys have an
obligation to decline representation in matters where they cannot competently
represent the interests of their client, whether due to lack of skill or experience, or
because of an ethical or legal restriction. (See California Rules of Professional
Conduct, Rule 3-110 (Failing to Act Competently).) This bill would not alter this
existing standard, and attorneys not lawfully present in the United States would,
like every other California attorney, be duty bound to practice law competently
and in a manner commensurate with their legal and ethical obligations.” (Sen.
Jud. Com., Analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1024 (2013-2014 Reg. Sess.) as amended
Sept. 6, 2013, pp. 6-7 [for hearing on Sept. 11, 2013].)
As this bill analysis accurately recognizes, this court‟s granting of a law
license to undocumented immigrants would not override or otherwise affect the
federal limitations upon the employment of undocumented immigrants.
Nonetheless, for a number of reasons we conclude that existing federal limitations
on the employment of undocumented immigrants do not justify excluding
undocumented immigrants from admission to the State Bar.
First, as discussed above, the most directly applicable federal statute —
section 1621 — expressly authorizes a state, through a sufficiently explicit statute,
to permit undocumented immigrants to obtain a professional license,
notwithstanding the limitations on employment imposed by other federal statutes.
No federal statute precludes a state from issuing a law license to an undocumented
immigrant. Further, although the amicus curiae brief filed by the United States
Department of Justice disagrees with the interpretation of federal immigration law
relating to employment advanced by the Committee and Garcia, the brief at the
same time emphasizes that “[t]he enforcement of the federal provisions governing
employment by aliens is a responsibility of the federal government, and is not the
proper subject of state-court proceedings, particularly in the context of state
26
licensing” and urges this court not to “attempt to resolve any question about the
types of legal services that Mr. Garcia may provide if granted a license.”
Second, federal law restrictions on employment are subject to change, and
under current federal immigration policy many undocumented immigrants are now
eligible to obtain work authorization. Under the “deferred action for childhood
arrivals” policy promulgated by the Secretary of the United States Department of
Homeland Security (Secretary of Homeland Security) in June 2012, many
undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children and were under
the age of 30 when the new policy was adopted are eligible to obtain work
authorization that is subject to renewal every two years.18
18 On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security issued a policy
statement with regard to the exercise of prosecutorial discretion to “defer[] action”
with regard to the removal and deportation of undocumented immigrants who
came to this country as children. The policy statement sets forth a set of criteria to
be considered by immigration officials in exercising such discretion — including
whether the person came to the United States under the age of 16, has continually
resided in the United States for at least five years, is currently in school or has
graduated from high school, and was not above the age of 30 when the policy was
adopted — and directs that any individual who is found to be a good candidate for
the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in light of these criteria be issued a
designation deferring action on any removal proceedings for two years, subject to
repeated renewal on a two-year basis. The policy also directs immigration
officials to determine whether any individual who obtains deferred action under
this policy should also be granted work authorization during his or her period of
deferred action. (U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Exercising Prosecutorial
Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children
(June 15, 2012) [as of Jan. 2, 2014].)
In September 2013, the Department of Homeland Security reported that
from August 2012 to August 2013 over 455,000 applications for deferred action
for childhood arrivals had been approved nationally and that over 130,000 of the
approved applications were from California. (USCIS Off. of Performance and
Quality, Data on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Sept. 11, 2013)
[as of Jan. 2,
2014].)
Garcia is not eligible for the deferred action program because he was over
the age of 30 when the policy was promulgated.
19 Business and Professions Code section 6060.6 provides: “Notwithstanding
Section 30 of this code and Section 17520 of the Family Code, the Committee of
Bar Examiners may accept for registration, and the State Bar may process for an
original or renewed license to practice law, an application from an individual
containing a federal tax identification number, or other appropriate identification
number as determined by the State Bar, in lieu of a social security number, if the
individual is not eligible for a social security account number at the time of the
application and is not in noncompliance with a judgment or order for support
pursuant to Section 17520 of the Family Code.” The legislative history of this
provision indicates that it was adopted to permit foreign law students attending
California law schools to take the California bar examination and seek admission
to the State Bar. (Sen. Rules Com., Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses, 3d reading
analysis of Assem. Bill No. 664 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) as amended Aug. 31,
2005, p. 3.)
28
their ethical obligations to act in accordance with all applicable legal constraints
and do not condition or limit their law licenses. We conclude it is appropriate to
treat qualified undocumented immigrants in the same manner. To the extent
federal immigration law limitations on employment are ambiguous or in dispute,
as in other contexts in which the governing legal constraints upon an attorney‟s
conduct may be uncertain, we assume that a licensed undocumented immigrant
will make all necessary inquiries and take appropriate steps to comply with
applicable legal restrictions and will advise potential clients of any possible
adverse or limiting effect the attorney‟s immigration status may pose.
For all of the foregoing reasons, we conclude there is no state law or state
public policy that would justify precluding undocumented immigrants, as a class,
from obtaining a law license in California.
B. Are there reasons, specific to applicant Garcia, that the
Committee’s motion should be denied?
Finally, we must determine whether there are reasons, specific to Garcia
himself, that should lead this court to deny the Committee‟s motion to admit
Garcia to the State Bar.
To qualify for consideration for admission to the State Bar, an applicant
must, among other things, demonstrate that he or she possesses “good moral
character.” (Rules of the State Bar of Cal., tit. 4, rule 4.40(A); see Bus. & Prof.
Code, §§ 6060, subd. (b), 6068, subd. (a)(2).) The Committee makes an initial
determination, on a case-by-case basis, whether an applicant has met his or her
burden of establishing good moral character, but this court retains the authority to
independently review and weigh the evidence of moral fitness and to make the
ultimate determination whether the applicant has satisfied this requirement. (See,
e.g., Hightower v. State Bar (1983) 34 Cal. 3d 150, 155-156; Pacheco v. State Bar
(1987) 43 Cal. 3d 1041, 1047.)
29
As we explained in In re Menna (1995) 11 Cal. 4th 975, 983: “ „Good
moral character‟ has traditionally been defined as the absence of conduct imbued
with elements of „moral turpitude.‟ [Citations.] It includes „qualities of honesty,
fairness, candor, trustworthiness, observance of fiduciary responsibility, respect
for and obedience to the laws of the state and the nation and respect for the rights
of others and for the judicial process.‟ [Citations.]” The fundamental question is
whether the applicant is fit to practice law, taking into account whether the
applicant has engaged in conduct that reflects moral turpitude or has committed
misconduct that bears particularly upon the applicant‟s fitness to practice law.
(Kwasnik v. State Bar (1990) 50 Cal. 3d 1061, 1068; In re Lesansky (2001) 25
Cal. 4th 11, 14; Hallinan v. Committee of Bar Examiners, supra, 65 Cal. 2d 447,
452.)20
As set forth earlier in the statement of facts, applicant Garcia initially was
brought to California by his parents as a very young child, lived here until he was
nine years old, moved back to Mexico for several years, and then returned to
California with his parents when he was 17 years old. He has resided in California
continually since that time — for more than 19 years — and has gone to college,
completed law school, and has successfully passed the bar examination in
California. He has been a diligent and trusted worker and has made significant
20 As we explained in Baker v. State Bar (1989) 49 Cal. 3d 804, 815, footnote
3: “Because the right to practice a profession is sufficiently important to warrant
legal and constitutional protection, the term [„moral turpitude‟] must be given a
meaning and content relevant to the attorney‟s fitness to practice.” (See also
Morrison v. State Board of Education (1969) 1 Cal. 3d 214, 227 [when a statute
authorizes the imposition of professional discipline for conduct demonstrating
moral turpitude, “the meaning of . . . „moral turpitude‟ must depend upon, and thus
relate to, the occupation involved . . . .”].)
30
contributions to his community. He has never been convicted of a criminal
offense.
The record of the Committee‟s moral character investigation discloses that
no individual raised any concern with respect to Garcia‟s moral fitness. Numerous
individuals who worked with, taught, and participated in community activities
with Garcia over many years had nothing but the highest praise for the applicant.
For example, an attorney for whom Garcia worked as an unpaid intern during law
school stated that “I know with absolute certainty that Mr. Garcia [is] among the
most honest, forthright, and moral individuals that I have ever met.” A law school
professor described him as “an exemplary student” who “was always prepared and
always conducted himself with the utmost integrity. . . . I know I speak for the
faculty and administration when I say it has been our honor to play a small part in
his education.” And an administrative law judge, who became acquainted with
Garcia in connection with Garcia‟s volunteer activities in Chico, stated that Garcia
“has selflessly and effectively worked in a broad range of projects which address
the needs of those included within diverse ethnic, social, cultural, and language
groups,” and further declared that he “is both honest and reliable,” “circumspect in
his judgment and conduct,” and “a credit to his family and community. If
allowed, he will be a credit to the State Bar. He carries my highest
recommendation.”
Although, as noted earlier, the Committee‟s investigation of Garcia
disclosed one or two problematical incidents in his past (see, ante, pp. 5-6, fn. 5),
the Committee investigated the applicant‟s entire background very thoroughly and
concluded that, taking into account his entire life history and conduct, Garcia met
his burden of demonstrating that he possesses the requisite good moral character to
qualify for a law license. From our review of the record, we agree with that
determination.
31
V. Conclusion
The Committee‟s motion to admit Garcia to the State Bar is granted.
CANTIL-SAKAUYE, C. J.
WE CONCUR:
KENNARD, J.
BAXTER, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
CHIN, J.
CORRIGAN, J.
LIU, J.
32
CONCURRING OPINION BY CHIN, J.
The majority opinion does not acknowledge it, but just over three years
ago, in Martinez v. Regents of University of California (2010) 50 Cal. 4th 1277,
this court specifically considered how to designate persons in Garcia‟s position,
and we unanimously rejected the term the majority uses, “undocumented
immigrant,” in favor of a term we believed was more accurate, “unlawful alien.”
This is what we said: “Before we turn to the issues, we must comment on
terminology. Defendants and supporting amici curiae generally refer to a person
not lawfully in this country by a term such as „undocumented immigrant.‟
Plaintiffs and supporting amici curiae generally use the term „illegal alien,‟ as did
the Court of Appeal. The term „undocumented immigrant‟ is vague and is not
used in the relevant statutes. It is also euphemistic, because it is unlawful to be in
this country and to be undocumented in the sense in which defendants use the
term. On the other hand, some view the term „illegal alien‟ as pejorative. Wishing
to be as neutral, yet as accurate, as possible in our terminology, we turn to the
most relevant statutes for assistance. [Education Code, s]ection 68130.5,
subdivision (a)(4), uses the phrase „a person without lawful immigration status.‟
The federal provisions, sections 1621(d) and 1623(a) [tit. 8 U.S.C.], use the phrase
„an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States.‟ Both of these phrases
are too bulky to be used continually. We believe it best to shorten these phrases to
the two-word term „unlawful alien.‟ Accordingly, we will use that term in this
1
opinion.” (Martinez v. Regents of University of California, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p.
1288.)
The statutes at the heart of this case use the terms “an alien who is not
lawfully present in the United States” (8 U.S.C. § 1621(d)) and “an applicant who
is not lawfully present in the United States” (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6064, subd.
(b)), both of which are closer to the shorthand term used in Martinez than to the
one used in the majority opinion.
Nevertheless, I consider the question of which term to use to come within
the discretion of the opinion‟s author. Accordingly, I have signed the majority
opinion.
CHIN, J.
2
See last page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.
Name of Opinion In re Garcia
__________________________________________________________________________________
Unpublished Opinion
Original Appeal
Original Proceeding XXX
Review Granted
Rehearing Granted
__________________________________________________________________________________
Opinion No. S202512
Date Filed: January 2, 2014
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Court:
County:
Judge:
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Counsel:
Fishkin & Slatter, Jerome Fishkin, Lindsay K. Slatter, Samuel C. Bellicini; Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz,
Edelman & Dicker and Robert Cooper for Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Manuel M. Medeiros, Sate Solicitor General, Kathleen A. Kenealy,
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Jonathan Wolff, Acting Chief Assistant Attorney General, Douglas J.
Woods, Assistant Attorney General, Rochelle C. East, Tamar Pachter, Daniel J. Powell and Ross C.
Moody, Deputy Attorneys General, for California Attorney General as Amicus Curiae on behalf of
Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Irell & Manella, Carlos R. Moreno, Eric A. Webber and BJ Ard for Los Angeles County Bar Association,
Alameda County Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, Asian Pacific
American Bar Association of Silicon Valley, Bar Association of San Francisco, Beverly Hills Bar
Association, Kern County Bar Association, Marin County Bar Association, Mexican American Bar
Association, Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California, Riverside County Bar Association,
Sacramento County Bar Association, San Bernardino County Bar Association, San Diego County Bar
Association, Santa Clara County Bar Association and South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Anthony P. Marquez; Law Office of Denis White and Joshua Kaizuka for La Raza Lawyers Association of
Sacramento and Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner
Sergio C. Garcia.
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, Ilyce Shugall; Dolores Street Community Services, Francisco
M. Ugarte and Jaclyn Shull Gonzalez as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Rigoberto J. Arrechiga, Elizabeth P. Uribe and Juan A. Ramos for the Mexican American Bar Association
of Los Angeles County as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Morrison & Foerster, Arturo J. Gonzáles, Claudia M. Vetesi, Alexandria A. Amezcua, Javier Serrano;
Girardi | Keese, Howard B. Miller; Bacon Immigration Law & Policy Program and Nina A. Rabin for
California Latino Legislative Caucus as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Page 2 – S202512 – counsel continued
Sharon P. Minter, Christopher F. Stoll and Angela K. Perona for National Center for Lesbian Rights and
Lambda Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Reed Smith, Raymond A. Cardozo, David J. de Jesus, Rachel M. Golick and Delaney M. Andersen for
Michael A. Olivas, Holly S. Cooper, Karen Musalo, Hiroshi Motomura, Cruz Reynoso, and other
immigration law professors as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Jennifer Chang Newell, Michael Tan; Lee Gelernt; Tanya Broder; and Bernard P. Wolfsdorf for the
American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Civil Liberties
Union of Northern California, American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties,
American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, Legal Aid Society-
Employment Law Center, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and National Immigration Law
Center as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Arnold & Porter, Jerome B. Falk, Jr., Lisa Hill Fenning, John Throckmorton; Akins Gump Strauss Hauer &
Feld, William A. Norris, L. Rachel Lerman and Amit Kurlekar for law school deans Sandra L. Brooks,
Erwin Chemerinsky, Christopher Edley, Jr., Victor Gold, Rachel Moran, Drucilla S. Ramey, and Frank H.
Wu as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Brigit G. Alvarez for Joseph A. Vail Center for Immigrant Rights as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner
Sergio C. Garcia.
UCLA Downtown Labor Center and Tia Koonse for Dream Team Los Angeles, Orange County Dream
Team, California Dream Network, San Fernando Valley Dream Team and United We Dream Network as
Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Cynthia J. Larsen, Sarah C. Marriott, Alexis Yee-Garcia, Judy Kwan;
Latino Justice PRLDEF and Jose Perez for Cesar Vargas as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio
C. Garcia.
Nicholás Espíritu for Dream Bar Association, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund,
Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Law Alliance, National Association of Latino Elected and
Appointed Officials Educational Fund and National Council of La Raza as Amici Curiae on behalf of
Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Nicholas Kierniesky, in pro. per., as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner Sergio C. Garcia.
Starr Babcock, Lawrence C. Yee, Richard J. Zanassi, Rachel S. Grunberg; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher,
Robert E. Palmer, Joshua A. Jessen, Drew A. Harbur; Mark A. Perry; Minami Tamaki, Donald K. Tamaki,
Minette A. Kwok, Phillip M. Zackler; Kevin R. Johnson; Bill Onh Hing; Bryan Springmeyer; Kerr &
Wagstaffe and James N. Wagstaffe for Respondent Committee of Bar Examiners of State Bar of California.
Larry DeSha, in pro. per., as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Respondent Committee of Bar Examiners of the
State Bar of California.
Stuart F. Delery Acting Assistant Attorney General (United States), Beth S. Brinkmann, Deputy Assistant
Attorney General, Mark B. Stern, Michael P. Abate and Daniel Tenny for the United States of America as
Amicus Curiae on behalf of Respondent Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.
Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):
Jerome Fishkin
Fishkin & Slatter
1575 Treat Blvd., Suite 215
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 944-5600
Ross C. Moody,
Deputy Attorney General
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
San Francisco, CA 94102-7004
(415) 703-1376
James N. Wagstaffe
Kerr & Wagstaffe
100 Spear Street, Suite 1800
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 371-8500
Daniel Tenny
Department of Justice
Civil Division, Room 7226
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
(201) 616-8209