Students will remotely observe the Pearsall Immigration Court, which exclusively hears cases of persons in immigration detention. Because the court only hears detained cases, there is little public visibility or oversight. To gain a better understanding of the workings of the court and to hold the court accountable, students will complete a form as they observe a Master Calendar Hearing docket. During these hearings, immigrants can ask for a continuance to find counsel or can go forward without a lawyer and tell the court the form of relief they seek. Following the Master Calendar Hearing, individuals are always scheduled for a later hearing. The form students will complete is intended to gather data such as calendaring delays, judge demeanor, and legal representation.
Organization
Mithoff Pro Bono Program
The Immigration Court Watch Project is an internal project of the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, hosted in partnership with the Texas Law Immigration Clinic.
Project Details
- Project Start Date
Wednesday, October 9
- Project Time
- 11:45am-1pm
- Approximate hours of work requested
- 4 hours per docket plus 1 hour training; students can sign up for one or more dockets on dates/times that fit their schedule but they MUST be able to observe a full morning and/or afternoon docket; dockets take place on weekdays between 8:30am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
- Training
- Wednesday, October 9, 11:45am-1pm (TNH 2.124)
- Skills used
- Active listening; attention to detail; critical thinking
- Project location
- Virtual
- Number of student volunteers requested
- 25
- Class year preference
- 1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
- To Apply
- Register at https://courtwatch10-1-24.eventbrite.com