Norton Rose Fulbright scores win in criminal matter on behalf of pro bono client in New York

On February 2, 2018, Norton Rose Fulbright obtained a favorable result in a motion to vacate the felony criminal conviction of pro bono client Mario S. in New York Supreme Court, Bronx County. The matter was handled by Jack Figura, senior associate in the firm’s New York office, with the collaboration of co-counsel Robin Nichinsky at the Center for Appellate Litigation and with assistance from senior paralegals Sandra Buzaglo and Gregory Godwin. 

Mr. S has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 1992 but was recently placed in deportation proceedings because of a now 18-year-old conviction for attempted sale of a controlled substance. The conviction, for which he served a sentence of probation, would have triggered mandatory deportation under US immigration law.

Norton Rose Fulbright took the case in 2017. The team argued that Mr. S's prior conviction resulted from a violation of his constitutional rights. As a result of our efforts, the court agreed to a vacatur of Mr. S's conviction and to his re-pleading to an offense that would not subject him to mandatory deportation—with no additional sentence to be served.

On February 2, Mr. S appeared in court in the Bronx, represented by the firm and by co-counsel, and entered his new plea. Please join us in congratulating Mr. S and the team in achieving an outstanding result.