James Benzoni, Partner

Practice Areas: Criminal Defence, Federal Attorney, DUI Defence, Expungements

Phone: 515-271-5730 | Fax: 515-274-2300

James A. Benzoni was born and raised in upstate New York. He studied to be a Catholic priest, graduating from St. Menrad Seminary College in Indiana in 1976. He then spent 10 years on the road, traveling to many different countries. During these travels, James had the privilege of living with the people and experiencing what it is like to live in different cultures and conditions. After many adventures, James attended law school at Drake University, graduating Order of the Coif.

James clerked for judges on the Iowa Court of Appeals for almost two years following law school. He then went into private practice, opening his own law office in November 1992. He has engaged in private law practice since that time.

In his initial years of law practice, James worked mainly in criminal defense in both state and federal courts, as well as juvenile law. During his work in criminal defense, James began to help some of his clients with immigration problems. He first began practicing immigration law in 1993. After some notable successes, James was firmly established in immigration law practice at a time when there were very few immigration law attorneys in the state of Iowa.

For several years James taught a week-long immigration class to lawyers from around the United States and even other countries who were interested in expanding their law practices. The class was very intensive, focusing on the actual practice of immigration law. James shared with his lawyer students how to develop the problem solving and analytical skills necessary for successful dealing with the many problems that can arise in an immigration case, including deportation defense and naturalization. He also shared his own insights into immigration law practice, including the necessity of each lawyer understanding their client’s home country and the conditions in those home countries, as well as each client’s struggle to attain legal immigration status.

James also has a unique passion for justice, derived in large part from his devout Catholic mother’s passion for the poor and oppressed, as well as from his own personal experiences living on the road and his own extensive studies for the Catholic ministry. James has a particular affinity for the message of Jesus as laid out in the Gospels, and especially for the example of Jesus himself. James has tried to follow Jesus’s example and teachings in his own life. Indeed, it was this example and teachings of Jesus that lead James to spend the 10 years on the road, living with the people especially the poor of the world. And that teaching and example continues to inspire him today as he works to ensure that even the least of “His little ones” are granted access to justice and mercy that are at the very heart of the Biblical message.

“So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Duet. 10:19

“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.” Matt. 25:35-36

Bar Admissions:

Iowa Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska

Professional Associations
Iowa State Bar Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association

Jessica Maffitt, Partner

Phone: (515) 271-5730

Fax: (515) 274-2300

Email: jessicamaffitt@benzonilaw.com

Benzoni Law Office, P.L.C.

November 2009 – Present
Practicing in the areas of immigration, appeals, criminal, and juvenile law

Specializing in criminal and complex deportation cases, including LPR and Non-LPR Cancellation of Removal, Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Convention Against Torture, NACARA, 212(c), Adjustment of Status, Refugee Waivers, VAWA Cancellation, and motions to terminate

Analyzing the interaction of immigration status and criminal law issues

Presentation of asylum, naturalization, special immigrant juvenile status, VAWA, U visa, and family-based immigration cases before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

Trying cases before the Immigration Court and the Iowa District Courts

Appealing immigration cases before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Administrative Appeals Office

Appealing criminal and juvenile cases before the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Iowa Supreme Court

Volunteer Experience

Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors | Des Moines, Iowa

April 2010 – Present
Vice-chair of the Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors Board
Community outreach and advocacy
Participating in monthly immigration clinics as a volunteer attorney
Preparing Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications at clinics

Know Your Immigration Rights Presentations
Des Moines, Iowa

October 2012 – Present
Presentations at the Polk County Jail teaching immigrants about their rights, impact of criminal convictions on immigration status, and potential legal remedies

Education

Doctor of Juris Prudence, Drake University Law School,
Des Moines, Iowa

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa

Professional Memberships

September 2009
Member in Good Standing of the Iowa Bar

July 2010
Member in Good Standing of the Bar for the United States
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

July 2010
Member in Good Standing of the Bar for the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

July 2010
Member in Good Standing of the Bar for the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

November 2010
Certified Family Court Mediator in the Fifth Judicial District

Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Member of the Iowa State Bar Association