Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Foley Square
New York, New York 10007
Tel: (212) 857-8800 (Main Number)
Fax: (212) 857-8898/99

David Bober, Director and Senior Staff Attorney
Tonya Lapsley-Cockett, Administrative Manager

The Staff Attorney's Office assists the judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit with a variety of civil and criminal issues in both pro se and counseled appeals. Staff attorneys function as law clerks to the court: they review case records and filings, conduct legal research, draft bench memoranda and proposed opinions and orders, and provide judges with objective legal advice regarding the appropriate disposition.

The Staff Attorney's Office handles the court's immigration docket, which principally involves challenges to the denial of applications for asylum, withholding of removal, or relief under the Convention Against Torture, as well as issues relating to the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. Staff attorneys who choose to specialize in immigration appeals develop substantial subject matter expertise in immigration law, and track developments in immigration law, both in the courts and through legislation.

The Office also handles all pro se appeals and motions, counseled motions, and successive petitions for habeas corpus relief. The pro se appeals frequently raise issues of prisoners' rights, civil procedure, constitutional law, employment discrimination and social security. All of the motions handled by the staff attorneys concern the merits of the appeals; many are dispositive. Counseled motions include emergency requests for stays, injunctions and writs of mandamus, as well as motions for leave to appeal in class actions, securities actions, and agency cases. The Office also handles Anders and other motions in criminal cases.

Last modified at 10/16/2013