How well would you do representing yourself in court?
Unless you’re a lawyer, probably not very well, but according to Jack H. Weil, young children can learn enough immigration law so as not to require a lawyer in immigration court, reports The Washington Post.
Weil is the assistant chief immigration judge in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, and oversees the training of other immigration judges. He made the statement in a deposition for a case in which the ACLU and immigrants right groups are trying to require the government to provide lawyers for children in immigration court who cannot afford counsel.
According to The Washington Post:
“I’ve taught immigration law literally to 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds,” Weil said. “It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of patience. They get it. It’s not the most efficient, but it can be done.”
He repeated his claim twice in the deposition, also saying, “I’ve told you I have trained 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds in immigration law,” according to a transcript. “You can do a fair hearing. It’s going to take you a lot of time.”
Legal and child psychology experts ridiculed Weil’s assertions, noting that key milestones for 3- and 4-year-olds include cooperating with other children, saying simple sentences and building towers of blocks.
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