Board of Immigration Appeals Suspends Attorney Robert Murl Messerli for Two Years Following Oklahoma Misconduct

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the Board of Immigration Appeals imposed a suspension of two years and one day on Attorney Robert Murl Messerli, following his previous suspension in Oklahoma.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Robert Murl Messerli.”

The Oklahoma suspension was due to misconduct in Mr. Messerli’s representation of immigrant clients through Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. An investigation began in 2022 after two grievances were filed against him when he resigned from his position at Catholic Charities. A review of his case files found negligence and failure to properly communicate with clients on several matters. He did not provide competent or diligent representation, repeatedly missing important filing deadlines for applications and pleadings. This negatively impacted over 20 clients.

In response to the state disciplinary action against Mr. Messerli, the Disciplinary Counsels for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security jointly petitioned the Board of Immigration Appeals to suspend him from practicing before immigration courts and DHS as well. On August 29, 2024, they filed a Joint Notice of Intent to Discipline seeking a two-year and one-day suspension to match the state suspension period.

As outlined in the Board’s October 22, 2024 order, Mr. Messerli did not file a timely response to the allegations as required. The immigration regulations thus deemed the allegations admitted and precluded him from requesting a disciplinary hearing. Given he presented no arguments against the proposed sanction, the Board of Immigration Appeals honored the two-year and one-day suspension period recommended in the Joint Notice.

The order suspended Mr. Messerli effective September 24, 2024. It prohibits him from practicing before the Board itself, all Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security.

According to avvo.com, Mr. Messerli is an attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He acquired his law license in Oklahoma in 2009.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.