Blaine Bookey

Pronouns: she/her

Blaine oversees strategic litigation, policy and advocacy, and research on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as provision of technical assistance and training to attorneys across the country. Blaine also teaches courses in human rights as a Visiting Assistant Professor at UC Law San Francisco.

Prior to joining CGRS, Blaine served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dolores K. Sloviter of the Third Circuit and as a fellow with the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux in Port au Prince, Haiti. Before law school, she worked as an immigration paralegal for several years. 

Languages: Spanish, Haitian Creole, French

Education

University of Oxford Faculty of Law, MSc in International Human Rights
Law (Distinction)

UC Law San Francisco, J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif
Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review
Judicial Extern at the Executive Office for Immigration Review

Northwestern University, B.A. in Social Policy and Gender Studies

Admitted to practice law in California.

Honors

2020 Top Women Lawyers in California, Daily Journal

2016 David Carliner Public Interest Award, American Constitution Society

Service to the Community

• Chair, Board of Directors, Madre
• Advisory Council, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti

Selected Publications and Commentary

• "Scotus Update: Defeating Remain in Mexico," July 1, 2022
• "On Biden's MPP Revival: Another Broken Promise," October 22, 2022
• "The Biden-Harris Administration Must Take Decisive Action to Restore Asylum," with Brianna Krong, Ms., January 21, 2021
• "As Trump Doubles Down, Courts Side with Immigrant Women Seeking Asylum," with Brianna Krong, Ms., August 21, 2020
• "Asylum protection for women fleeing domestic violence," Daily Journal, August 18, 2020
• "Federal Court Reaffirms U.S. As Safe Haven for Domestic Violence Survivors," Ms., May 1, 2020
• "Immigrant Women Too: The Legal Fight to Ensure Safe Haven for Survivors," San Francisco Attorney Magazine, July 2019