The Ninth Circuit is putting its foot down after an illegal immigrant who could have proven a man's innocence was deported ahead of the man's trial.
Jonathan Leal-Del Carmen was convicted of bringing illegal aliens into the country after a witness for the defense, who was an illegal immigrant, was deported before being allowed to testify in his favor, The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog reported Friday.
And now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled "deportation of witnesses favorable to the defense is not permitted in our circuit."
What the ruling means is if an illegal alien can prove beneficial for the defense, that immigrant gets to stay in the country and can't be deported before he or she is useful in criminal proceedings.
DON'T MISS: The NDAA's Indefinite Detention Clause Is Now Permanently Blocked >
Please follow Law & Order on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
