Law License for Illegal? — Sergio Garcia seemed to have the wind in his sails as he tried to become the first undocumented immigrant lawfully granted a California bar card. The State Bar and Attorney General Kamala Harris support his application. He brings a compelling back story of self-sufficiency and perseverance. And there is no formal opposition.
But on Wednesday at the California Supreme Court, Garcia appeared to lack one key ingredient: a majority of four justices willing to stick their necks out. Indeed, all seven sounded inclined to strictly interpret a federal law that bars the issuance of professional licenses to undocumented immigrants, though the 1996 statute gives states leeway to amend the standard through "enactment of a state law."
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