Alvarez-Reynaga v. Holder (9th Cir. 2010)

With one hand the court giveth, with the other the court taketh.  The Ninth Circuit ruled that a conviction pursuant to Cal. Penal Code Sec. 496d(a) for the purchase or receipt of a stolen vehicle is not a crime of moral turpitude.  Spinning on a dime, the court then determined that such a conviction, however, is an aggravated felony for purposes of removability.  It boggles the mind–the respondent in the case was able to practically taste the feeling of relief for about thirty seconds, until he read the next two pages of the court’s decision.  An expression from high school captures the moment best…psych!