CLE & GAL: SIJS Findings in State Court (Virginia Approved for 1 CLE & 1 GAL Credit)

  • Thursday, October 21, 2021
  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Live Interactive Webcast

Registration

  • Member is in good standing for current year, July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022.
  • Attorney who is currently not a member of the Alexandria Bar Association.

Registration is closed

Why am I in State Court on a federal matter?  This class will review the interaction of state (JDR) court finding as needed to help file a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petition with the federal agencies.  We will explore the statutory basis and best practices for these findings, drafting of the petition (with attachments) and proposed order, the hearing and service of process.  This class will only involve the practice in State Courts, not the procedures before the appropriate Federal agencies.

Hon. Thomas K. Cullen
Judge
Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court

Judge Cullen was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1992. Since then, he has gained admission to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Over his career, Judge Cullen has practiced in almost every facet of the judicial system. Beginning his legal career as a Probation Officer, following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Leonie M. Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia. He then served for over a decade as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney before entering private practice. As a solo practitioner for 12 years, Judge Cullen represented many from underserved communities and worked as a Guardian Ad Litem for children and adults. Judge Cullen was appointed a Magistrate for the 5th Magisterial Region of Virginia in 2019, and in 2020 he was elected to the bench by the Virginia General Assembly. Following his election, Governor Northam commissioned Judge Cullen to serve as a JDR Judge commencing April 1, 2020. 

Over his career, Judge Cullen has been involved in training judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officers in various aspects of trial practice internationally. From March 2011 through November 2014, he served as the Director of the Rule of Law Program in the Republic of Panama, funded by the U.S. Department of State. The Program's mission was to assist the Republic in transitioning from a mixed inquisitive system to an accusatory system. He was tasked with developing and implementing training for judges, litigants, and police agents regarding trial preparation and practice. For almost ten years before his work in Panama, he was a part-time instructor with the U.S. Department of Justice and the American Bar Association for training on trial advocacy in Latin American countries. 

Additional service to the community includes serving on: the Board of Directors for the Alexandria Bar Association (President 2003-2004), on the Sheriff's Advisory Council, and the Alexandria JDR Advisory Council. 

Isabel Kaldenbach, Esq. PLLC

Isabel Kaldenbach is an attorney previously practicing in Arlington, Alexandria and now on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Most of her time is in JDR Court. She is certified by the Indigent Defense Commission to represent juveniles and adults in misdemeanor and felony cases, and by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a Guardian ad litem for children.  Formerly President of an award-winning public relations firm in Arlington, and before that Director of government and public affairs for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, Isabel has been a legislative aide for two members of the Congress, one Senator, and one Governor. She was honored as a Volunteer of the Year by the Arlington County Board in 2003 and as a Foster Parent of the Year in 2007 by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Isabel is fluent in Spanish, her first language, and a graduate of Princeton, Harvard and Georgetown University Law School.

Office Location and Hours

Alexandria Courthouse
The Alexandria Bar Association
520 King Street, Room 202
Alexandria, VA 22314


Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. by telephone 703-548-1106 or email at alexbar@alexandriabarva.org