Judge Jack Weinstein
Joefield immigrated in 1993. In February 2002 she pleaded guilty to misusing a social security number. After completing sentence of three years' probation and 250 hours of community service, she sought to become a licensed practical nurse. She did not complete the degree, fearing her conviction would prevent her from finding employment. Joefield has never been fired from a job, nor denied licensure, due to her conviction. No potential client has refused to use her catering business due to her conviction. Noting the five criteria in United States v. Schnitzer, district court denied Joefield's May 2, 2013, expungement petition. She sought expungement to become a corrections officer. In addition to noting expungement's routine denial where no constitutional violation is shown, the court observed that under United States v. Ravitsky, difficulty in obtaining or maintaining employment because of a criminal record does not warrant expungement. Further, arrest records are routinely denied expungement, even when the arrest did not lead to a conviction. Although Joefield "paid" her debt to society and appeared fully rehabilitated the court found that she was, unfortunately, not a candidate for the "extreme and rare remedy" of expungement.
