April Gilbert, The Law Office of April Gilbert

08/28/2026

This morning, I prevailed on a motion to vacate a conviction after my client’s constitutional rights were violated.

My client is a lawful permanent resident who has held his green card since receiving it at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul Korea. Years ago, he entered a guilty plea without being properly advised of the immigration consequences of that plea.

That conviction ultimately created a significant barrier to his ability to become a U.S. citizen.

Had my client been properly advised of the immigration consequences, he never would have pleaded guilty to the charge.

Today, the Court granted my motion to vacate the conviction. A not-guilty plea was entered, and the case was dismissed.

Most importantly, my client now has a clear pathway toward U.S. citizenship.

Cases like this are a powerful reminder that a criminal conviction can have consequences far beyond the sentence imposed by a court. For immigrants, the stakes can include their ability to remain in the United States, obtain citizenship, and fully build their lives here.

I’m grateful to have been able to advocate for my client and help correct an injustice that stood in the way of his future. 🇺🇸

08/23/2026

Update: 1203.4 Motion has been granted!!! My client’s guilty plea has been withdrawn, a not guilty plea was entered and the case was dismissed!!!!

While starting to work on my client’s 1203.4 motion, I discovered a 13 year old warrant and probation violation out of SLO. Of course it had to be handled right away, then I could proceed with my motion to “expunge” his record.
I came up to SLO and this morning I got a fantastic disposition, over the DA’s objection, (their records showed a failure to appear to serve a jail sentence and they wanted the client to serve the original sentence). I brought in mitigation showing how my client turned his life around, plus he paid restitution promptly and had no outstanding fees or fines. All his subsequent cases had been 1203.4’ed!
The Court recalled the warrant, found that my client violated probation, reinstated probation and terminated probation.
No jail!!! Now I can file my 1203.4 motion and put all of this in the past where it belongs!

08/23/2026

A proud moment for my client today as he advanced to Phase 4 of Young Adult Court in Orange County Superior Court.

What began as a very serious felony case took a completely different direction through hard work, accountability, and extensive mitigation. As a result of my client’s mitigation, the District Attorney agreed to waive my client into the Young Adult Court program, giving him an opportunity to move forward and make meaningful changes in his life.

He is now nearing graduation. Upon successful completion of the program, his case will be dismissed and his record will be sealed.

This is why mitigation matters. It’s about looking beyond the charges, understanding the person behind the case, and advocating for a second chance when the circumstances warrant it.

I’m incredibly proud of the progress my client has made and look forward to celebrating his graduation soon. One step closer to a fresh start.

07/16/2026

Another life changed today.

I was honored to successfully obtain relief under California Penal Code 1473.7 for a truly deserving client. What makes this case remarkable is that this was actually her second 1473.7 motion.

Eight years ago, she won her first motion and believed she was finally on the path to fixing her immigration status. Unfortunately, despite paying a substantial amount of money for that representation, she was steered into pleading guilty to a different offense that carried the very same devastating immigration consequences as the conviction that had just been vacated. She escaped one fire only to be thrown into another.

Because she was never properly advised of those immigration consequences, she continued to suffer prejudice. When she later applied for lawful permanent residency, her application was denied because of that replacement conviction. She remained subject to what the United States Supreme Court has described as the harshest of immigration consequences: deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, and the denial of the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen.

Today, we corrected that injustice. The court granted our motion, the conviction was vacated, a plea of not guilty was entered, and the District Attorney was unable to proceed to trial. As a result, my client can now renew her application for lawful permanent residency and, if all goes well, continue building her life here in the United States with her family.

Cases like this are a powerful reminder that winning a case is not enough if the immigration consequences are ignored. True justice requires that noncitizen defendants receive constitutionally effective advice so they can make informed decisions about their future.

07/10/2026

Another great result for a deserving client.
Today, my client’s case was officially dismissed after successfully completing Judicial Diversion.
The case began as a felony, but through advocacy we were able to have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor, making my client eligible for Judicial Diversion.
Over the past six months, my client did exactly what was required: completed community service, attended gun safety classes, and paid full restitution. By taking responsibility and following through on every condition, my client earned a fresh start.
Today, the court dismissed the case.
This outcome is a reminder that not every criminal case ends with a conviction. In the right circumstances, with the right legal strategy and a client committed to doing the work, second chances are possible.

07/04/2026

One year ago, on the Fourth of July, I spent part of my holiday at the jail meeting with my client who was struggling with addiction. At the time, the future was uncertain, but I believed she deserved the opportunity to get the help she needed. Together, we worked to get her into treatment, and she embraced that opportunity with courage, determination, and hard work.

Her commitment to treatment changed everything. Through the progress she made in recovery, I was able to present a compelling case to the prosecutor and the Court. Although she had been facing a significant amount of jail time on her new case and two probation violations for the same conduct, I was able to negotiate a resolution that included no jail time.

Yesterday my client sent me a text that simply said, “I have one year sober today!”

I couldn’t be more proud of her. Congratulations on one year of sobriety. Your strength, perseverance, and commitment to recovery are inspiring, and I know your future is brighter because of the choices you’ve made.

06/30/2026

This is why I love what I do. Helping families through difficult times and receiving messages like this reminds me that practicing law is about more than cases—it’s about people. Thank you for trusting me. ❤️

06/08/2026

Reviews like this mean a great deal to me. I never take my clients’ trust for granted, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to advocate for them.

Thank you for your kind words.

06/05/2026

Congratulations to my client! We went to trial in San Diego on a B&P25662a. After the ABC Agent agreed to dismiss the case and the first judge refused, we got sent out to trial in another courtroom. At trial all the agent’s testimony was hearsay! My Objection and Motion to strike was granted, 1118 Granted! Case dismissed!

05/05/2026

While starting to work on my client’s 1203.4 motion, I discovered a 13 year old warrant and probation violation out of SLO. Of course it had to be handled right away, then I could proceed with my motion to “expunge” his record.
I came up to SLO and this morning I got a fantastic disposition, over the DA’s objection, (their records showed a failure to appear to serve a jail sentence and they wanted the client to serve the original sentence). I brought in mitigation showing how my client turned his life around, plus he paid restitution promptly and had no outstanding fees or fines. All his subsequent cases had been 1203.4’ed!
The Court recalled the warrant, found that my client violated probation, reinstated probation and terminated probation.
No jail!!! Now I can file my 1203.4 motion and put all of this in the past where it belongs!