Cooley announced the resolution of a suit against the US Department of Justice on behalf of sitting Immigration Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor. The lawsuit challenged a 2012 order imposed by the DOJ that Judge Tabaddor recuse herself indefinitely from all cases involving Iranian nationals.
Tabaddor v. Holder, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, asserts that the DOJ ordered the blanket disqualification in a racially discriminatory fashion, based on Judge Tabaddor's national heritage and association with the Iranian-American community, including her speaking, educational and volunteer activities within that community.
Pursuant to the settlement, the DOJ has agreed to lift the order, undertake to review its policies, and pay $200,000. "We are proud and honored to have represented Judge Tabaddor and to have achieved this resolution," said Cooley Partner Ali Mojdehi. "In our view, this resolution completely vindicates the time honored principles which our client had sworn to uphold. We express gratitude to Magistrate Judge Gandhi who guided the parties in the discussions which resulted in this settlement. We also thank the numerous organizations and individuals who have rejected silence and have voiced their support in pleadings or otherwise in favor of our client. Finally, we are also pleased the DOJ came to terms on this matter."