Elizabeth Matherne Joins Stern Law As Senior Attorney

(Newswire.net — July 28, 2022) Atlanta, Georgia — Jessica Stern, founder and managing (Cr)Immigration attorney at STERN Law in Atlanta, Georgia, is pleased to announce the addition of Elizabeth Hildebrand Matherne, who joins the firm as a Senior Attorney. Matherne has over 15 years of experience in Criminal Defense and Immigration Law, giving her a unique understanding and perspective in representing non-citizens in criminal and immigration courts. 

“We are excited that Elizabeth has joined the STERN Law team. Not only is Elizabeth well respected in the legal community, but she is also known for her commitment and passion for uniting non-citizen families and delivering honest case assessments and high-quality legal services for her clients. Elizabeth’s background closely aligns with the firm’s mission, and her devotion and integrity in standing by her clients during their most challenging days in seeking U.S. citizenship is inspiring,” says Stern.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the STERN Law team. I have been passionate about advocating for clients pursuing U.S. citizenship who may also be dealing with the challenges of criminal charges since the 2010 ground-breaking U.S. Supreme Court decision in Padilla v. Kentucky.  Fighting for my client’s future while keeping their families together and defending their American dream is an honor and my highest priority,” says Matherne.

Matherne founded Matherne Immigration Partners in 2010 and practiced as a solo practitioner until 2017. From 2017 through 2019, Matherne served as Lead Attorney for the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). In 2019, she served as Senior Counsel for Kuck Baxter Immigration LLC until joining STERN Law in 2022. 

During her time with SPLC and Kuck Baxter, Matherne played a small role in shining the light on the horrific occurrences in the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. Consequently, the detention center’s contract to detain non-citizens was revoked.

Matherne received her B.S. degree in International Trade with a Minor in Spanish Language at Georgia Southern University in 2001. She received her J.D. from St. Thomas University, School of Law in Florida in 2007. Matherne also earned a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama in 2017. 

While attending law school, Matherne interned for the Honorable Judge David M. Gersten, Florida Third District Court of Appeals, and was a certified legal intern for Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office.

Upon graduation from law school, Matherne served as an Assistant Public Defender in Orlando, Florida, learning all aspects of criminal defense. 

Matherne’s memberships include:

• Florida State Bar (2008)
• Georgia State Bar (2010)
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia (2016)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia (2021)
• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Georgia-Alabama, South Florida, and Central Florida Chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

Matherne also served as the Chapter Chair of the Georgia-Alabama Chapter from 2019-2020. She was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016, 2018, and 2020. She has been quoted in numerous national and international publications and has appeared on NPR, Univision, and more.

In addition to being an attorney, Matherne is the mother of three fun-loving young adults, two rescued dogs, and an ever-revolving number of foster cats and kittens. In her spare time, she can be found volunteering with the local humane society, enjoying nature, painting, baking, loudly watching Alabama Football during college football season, or at the dirty, dusty barn watching her daughter’s horseback ride (and barrel race!).