Expungement of Criminal Records
Apr 20, 2009OUTCOME: The expungement was granted.
Early in my practice, I developed my business plan to allow for 50% pro bono cases. I took on several cases for Teen Challenge staff members who had turned their lives around. It was very rewarding a ... nd fortunately for the clients, resoundingly successful. One case sticks out: After getting all but one of a client's criminal records expunged, I decided to request a hearing in open court in Sacramento on the one outstanding misdemeanor conviction that was pending. My client and I drove all night to be there. The judge in that courtroom was not convinced it served the interest of justice to expunge a misdemeanor conviction. I argued that this client deserved the expungement, and that the interests of justice would be served by the Court granting our request. I apologized in advance, but I showed the Court this client's booking photo from a decade prior and invited the court to see my client today. It was unorthodox, but the judge and all his staff viewed the photo. Everyone appeared deeply moved by the transformation.
