Sergio Garcia case gets to California Supreme Court

Green CardOn September 4th the California Supreme Court justices listened to arguments both for and against the quest by Sergio Garcia to become a licensed lawyer within the United States, The Associated Press reports.  Garcia is an immigrant that has been living in the country since he was 17 years old and the court now has just fewer than 90 days to make a decision about the fate of his legal profession in the United States.

Sergio Garcia has been trying to be able to make use of his degree in the US for many years now.  Despite being born in Mexico, he graduated from high school as well as community college and university in the United States, and he passed the bar exam on the first attempt after gaining his law degree via the Cal Northern School of Law.

“This is about trying to live the American dream and showing other immigrants that hard work and dedication does mean something in this country,” Garcia told The Associated Press.  Garcia got a green card back in 1995, yet has still not been given legal status and doing so could take another six or seven years.

The Department of Justice is arguing that someone who does not have citizenship should not be able to defend clients based upon US law, but California Attorney General Kamala Harris disagrees and says that Garcia should be free to pursue his chosen profession.  Garcia is currently working as a motivational speaker.