Johnny Sinodis

Johnny Sinodis is a partner at Van Der Hout LLP who joined the firm in August 2019. His practice focuses on removal defense, appeals, the immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and federal court litigation. Johnny is currently co-counsel in Rosario v. USCIS, a nationwide class action requiring USCIS to adjudicate asylum applicants’ initial (first time) applications for employment authorization documents within 30 days pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 208.7(a)(1) (2018), and Aleman Gonzalez v. Sessions, a class action mandating prolonged detention bond hearings for individuals within the Ninth Circuit who are detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(6). Johnny advises criminal defense attorneys and public defenders on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and provides mentorship and training for practitioners and pro bono attorneys. He has also presented Continuing Legal Education seminars on various topics, including habeas petitions in federal court, post-conviction relief, and the representation of undocumented workers charged with Identity Theft and other fraud-related offenses.

Prior to joining Van Der Hout, Johnny practiced at Salvatierra Law Group in Phoenix, Arizona, where he handled criminal and immigration cases, and regularly represented individuals who were subjected to racially discriminatory policing practices in Maricopa County, Arizona.

In addition to practicing law, Johnny is an Executive Board Member for the National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Chapter. He also serves as an Office of the Principal Legal Advisor co-liaison for AILA’s Northern California Chapter.

Johnny received his J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2011. As a law student, he participated in the Immigration Law and Policy Clinic, advocating for unaccompanied minors seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. He externed at the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Phoenix Immigration Court and authored articles for the Law Journal for Social Justice and the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, where he also served as an Editor.