Appeals & Post Conviction Relief for Non-U.S. Citizens

Were you convicted of a crime? Are you sure?

Post Conviction

Many people do not realize that they have a conviction on their record for immigration purposes. Sometimes even dismissed charges are considered convictions under federal immigration law. Here’s the federal definition of conviction: “a formal judgment of guilt of the alien entered by the court” or, “if adjudication of guilt has been withheld, where…a judge has found the alien guilty, or the alien has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or has admitted sufficient facts to warrant a finding of guilt, and…the judge has ordered some form of punishment, penalty, or restraint on the alien’s liberty to be imposed.” INA § 101(a)(48)(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A).

Before you end up at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an interview, or in Immigration Court for deportation proceedings, make sure a CrImmigration lawyer does a thorough review.

If your criminal case is over, and it resulted in a conviction (any admission of guilt), STERN Law knows how to best help you avoid deportation or denial of immigration benefits.

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Ready to join STERN Law?

WARNING: Before you file any immigration application, you must first understand if the conviction will make you either removable/deportable from the U.S. or inadmissible to the U.S. upon attempted re-entry . If so, your application could trigger removal/deportation proceedings. It is important that your immigration attorney also understands criminal law in order to counsel you on your best options and the effects of the criminal conviction.

We Challenge Convictions or Unlawful Detention

Here are some useful resources:

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Uniform Juvenile Court Rules

Gabriel Pino, Immigration Paralegal

Gabriel Pino originally joined STERN Law in 2015 and served as our Immigration Paralegal through January 2017. He has since moved to New Jersey and continues to support our team and clients remotely. Gabriel is passionate about international human rights and fights for justice for all. He loves to travel and even puts aside his fear of air travel to visit far-away countries and cultures. Gabriel is a committed freedom fighter, and we are happy to collaborate with him every chance we get!

Christina Champagne, Associate Attorney

Christina Champagne is an Atlanta-raised attorney dedicated to client-centered representation and just results.

She became a Defender while a student at Emory Law School. Under Georgia’s Third-Year Practice Act, she interned at the Fulton and Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Offices. However, after a year working for two women who built a criminal defense firm after careers as public defenders, Christina quickly confirmed that her true passion is to defend the rights of the accused and protecting people from the insurmountable power of the Government.

Christina has represented clients on hundreds felony and misdemeanor cases, including aggravated assault, theft, child molestation, drug charges, minor in possession of alcohol, DUI, and traffic offenses. She has conducted hearings and trials before the State and Superior Courts of Georgia, serving clients spanning from Macon to Columbus, Atlanta, Athens, and north Georgia.

Christina transitioned to STERN Law to expand her practice to the defense of non-U.S. Citizens. She proudly protects people who are not only accused of violating the law, but who could lose their families and livelihoods if convicted (and deported or stripped of legal status). Christina also helps non-U.S. Citizens achieve legal status in the United States to pursue their dreams and stay united with their families. Christina believes that everyone deserves a chance to be a part of this great country, especially when a person works so hard to make it happen.

In her spare time, Christina enjoys yoga; being outdoors; traveling with her fiancé; and Georgia football.

Christina is admitted to the Bar in the State and Superior Courts of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Jessica Stern continues to give back to her colleagues and communities during her spare time, including:

2018

Vice-Chair, Atlanta Bar – City of Atlanta Board of Ethics
Member, AILA - ICE Liaison Committee
Member, Northern District of Georgia - Criminal Justice Act Panel

2017

LEAD Atlanta Class of 2017
Member, Atlanta Bar – City of Atlanta Board of Ethics
Member, AILA - ICE Liaison Committee

2016

Member, Atlanta Bar – City of Atlanta Board of Ethics
Member, AILA - ICE Liaison Committee
Member, Atlanta Bar - Judicial Selection & Tenure Committee

2015

Chair, Atlanta Bar Association Criminal Law Section Board
Member, Atlanta Bar – City of Atlanta Board of Ethics
Member, Atlanta Bar - Judicial Selection & Tenure Committee

2014

Chair, Atlanta Bar – Criminal Law Section
Member, Atlanta Bar - Women in the Profession Section Board
Member, Atlanta Bar - Judicial Selection & Tenure Committee
Member, Forever Family, Inc. - Young Professionals Board

2013

Member, Atlanta Bar - Women in the Profession Section Board

Jessica Stern, Managing Attorney

Jessica Stern is a bright, spirited courtroom lawyer and a champion for justice. Blending years of experience as a public defender and an attorney with a well-respected federal criminal defense firm, Jessica founded STERN Law, LLC in 2013.

Built exclusively to protect non-U.S. citizens, STERN Law is the first 100% CrImmigration law firm in the nation. Jessica and her carefully-selected team focus completely on the defense of non-U.S. citizens throughout an entire criminal case with protection from deportation consequences, fight against deportation in Immigration Court, and diligently pursue lawful status through applications for immigration benefits nationwide.

She ensures quality representation to those in need of a client-centered, compassionate, and no-nonsense legal team. Despite common systematic and societal challenges, Jessica never takes lightly the responsibility to provide each and every person with respect and the best shot at winning. She is not afraid to push the envelope and challenge common practices in order to uphold and protect one’s constitutional rights and the basic principles of fairness. To that end, she is a firm believer that individuals are not defined by the worst thing they (may) have done in life.

Jessica values her courtroom experience, where she has litigated well over a thousand felony cases and complicated deportation trials. She has built skill through careful investigation and methodical research, strategic negotiations with the government, effective client communication, hundreds of motions arguments before various judges, and the willingness to force the government to prove its case at a jury trial. Jessica not only views success in the trials and motions she has won, but also in the dismissals and charge reductions, in arguments that change a judge’s view on a sentencing statute or evidentiary law, and most importantly in the overall satisfaction of the people she has represented.

Jessica is extremely knowledgeable about post-conviction relief options and enjoys counseling criminal defense attorneys through the Padilla Immigration Consequences analysis.

Jessica is admitted to the Bar in the State of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court. Jessica is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court in the Northern District of Georgia. Jessica was appointed in 2014 to the Bar’s Judicial Selection & Tenure Committee and sits on the City of Atlanta Board of Ethics through 2018. She is the former Chair of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section Board (2014-2015) and served on the Board of the Women in the Profession Section from 2012-2014. She’s an active member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), serving on the chapter’s ICE liaison committee for the past few years.

Awards & Recognitions

2018

Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, Immigration Law

2017

National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys Top 10 Under 40
Georgia Trend Legal Elite, Immigration Law
Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, Immigration Law

2016

Georgia Trend Legal Elite, Criminal Law
Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, Immigration Law

2015

National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys Top 10 Under 40
Georgia Trend Legal Elite, Criminal Law

2014

Avvo Superb Rated Attorney
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

2013

Atlanta Bar Association Celebrating Service Award
Lexology Client Choice Award
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

Education

J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
B.A., University of Central Florida, magna cum laude