On Friday, December 22, 2023, Jose Luis Chaidez, an immigration attorney who was disciplined in Arizona, was suspended from practicing law before Immigration Courts and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 60 days, effective immediately.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jose Luis Chaidez.”

The suspension stems from an agreement Chaidez entered on November 8, 2023, to resolve two counts of alleged ethics violations related to his legal representation of clients. In the first case from November 2021 through December 2022, Chaidez was accused of failing to diligently represent his civil client, missing disclosure and court deadlines, and not responding to a summary judgment motion which resulted in a judgment against his client.

In the second case involving a criminal defendant Chaidez was appointed to represent in January 2019, he allegedly did not provide the client’s file to new counsel in a timely manner after the conviction appeal concluded in 2021 and new counsel was handling post-conviction relief. New counsel had to file motions to compel Chaidez to turn over the documents.

As part of the agreement, Chaidez admitted to violating several Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct regarding diligence, safekeeping of client property, and adherence to court rules. His suspension was scheduled from November 18, 2023, through January 16, 2024. He will also be on probation for two years with conditions like participating in a law office management program and paying $1,200 in costs.

In its December 22 order, the Board of Immigration Appeals granted a joint request from the Disciplinary Counsels of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security to immediately suspend Chaidez pending the final outcome of his disciplinary case. His suspension bars him from practicing before immigration courts and DHS during his 60-day suspension in state court.

The order states:

“The petition is granted, and the respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Courts, and DHS, pending final disposition of this proceeding.”

According to avvo.com, Mr. Chaidez is a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended the Thomas M. Cooley. He acquired his law license in Arizona in 2007.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.