Mr. Zapata has managed simple family based petitions to complex deportation/removal cases before Immigration Judges. He has knowledge and experience in handling cases before the Administrative Appeals Office, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal.
He is well respected and highly thought of by his clients and colleagues. He has been an invited speaker for the Orange County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section on waivers of inadmissibility and at the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association monthly meeting on I-601 waivers of inadmissibility as well. He also served as a legal advisor on immigration matters for the Mexican Consulate in Orange County under Consul Luis Miguel Ortiz Haro.
Mr. Zapata is dedicated to immigrant’s rights and to the continued improvement of education in our community. He regularly volunteers at Immigration Fairs for Churches and other organizations providing free consultations to individuals of lower resources.
Criminal Practice
Mr. Hernández’s knowledge and experience in the area of criminal defense allows for a thorough representation of clients whose past criminal history may be a barrier for either obtaining or maintaining their lawful immigration status in the United States.
As a criminal defense attorney Mr. Hernández ensures that his clients are properly advised of all of the consequences of accepting a plea offer or taking a case to trial. Mr. Hernández spends the necessary time researching and reviewing all of the facts and circumstances in the client’s case before recommending any steps to take. He is mindful that a case should be pushed to trial to ensure that all of the client’s rights are protected and provides vigorous representation.
Mr. Hernández understands criminal proceedings can be very intimidating, from securing a bail bonds man, to being there for a client during investigative interviews by the law enforcement agency to representing the client at the arraignments and pre-trials, Mr. Hernández will take the time to answer all of the client’s questions to help them through a very difficult time in their life.
It is Mr. Hernández’s dedication and commitment that has enabled him to successfully represent individuals for the past 10 years both in the criminal courts and in immigration proceedings.
Post Conviction Relief
Post-conviction relief is a general term related to appeals of criminal convictions, which may include release, new trial, modification of sentence, and such other relief as may be proper and just. The court may also make supplementary orders to the relief granted, concerning such matters as rearraignment, retrial, custody and release on security.
The term may refer to a law or court rule that allows a collateral challenge to a judgment of conviction which has otherwise become final in the normal appellate review process. Post-conviction relief is governed by federal and state laws, which vary by state, and may be used to preclude state or federal habeas corpus.