Judah is one of the founding partners of Lakin & Wille LLP where he focuses on removal defense, appeals, federal court litigation, detention issues, and the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. Prior to starting Lakin & Wille LLP in 2019, Judah was an associate at Van Der Hout LLP. He is currently co-counsel in Zepeda Rivas v. Jennings, a class-action lawsuit challenging ICE’s detention of non-citizens in Northern California during the COVID pandemic. A district judge in Northern California has found plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claim that current conditions at the facilities violate their due process rights by unreasonably exposing them to a significant risk of harm, which has resulted in the release of over one hundred individuals from ICE incarceration. Judah is also co-counsel in Aleman-Gonzalez v. Sessions, a class-action lawsuit case that mandates prolonged detention bond hearings for individuals detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(6) in the Ninth Circuit. In April 2020, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s injunction ensuring that hundreds of individuals would continue to receive prolonged detention bond hearings throughout the Ninth Circuit. In July 2020, Judah, along with his law partner, Amalia Wille, was awarded the Northern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Pro Bono Champion Award for his pro bono litigation in federal court on behalf of detained non-citizens.
Prior to private practice, Judah clerked for the Honorable Richard A. Paez on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and prior to that, worked at Dolores Street Community Services’ Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program.
In addition to his work as an immigration attorney, in 2018, Judah co-founded and now co-directs the Bay Area Immigration Bond Fund—a non-profit project that raises funds for incarcerated individuals who cannot afford their immigration bonds. To date, the Bay Area Immigration Bond Fund has helped secure the release of over 90 individuals from immigration incarceration.
Education
J.D., Berkeley Law (2015)
M.Ed., Rhode Island College (2009)
B.A., Brown University (2004)