California moves to provide interpreters in all court cases

Associated Press ^ | Aug. 16, 2015 12:07 PM EDT | Sudhin Thanawala

[Olog-hai]

Going through a divorce has been difficult for Sepideh Saeedi. Not understanding what’s happening in court because she isn’t proficient in English has made the process even harder.

“When you don’t understand what the judge is saying, what the other side’s attorney is saying, it’s very stressful,” Saeedi, 33, who speaks Farsi, said after a recent court hearing in Redwood City, Calif.

Legal advocates say throughout the state, litigants in divorce, child custody, eviction and other civil cases who have difficulty with English are going into court without qualified interpreters. Instead, many are forced to turn to friends or family members—or worse yet, the opposing party—for translation.

That’s because California only guarantees access to an interpreter in criminal cases, not civil cases.

But the state is looking to change that. Under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, California’s Judicial Council this year approved a plan to extend free interpretation services to all cases by 2017. …

[itsahoot]

They found some more of someone else’s money to spend?

[telstar12.5]

I hope they left the California-Liberal baggage at the border.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[Scrambler Bob]

So, I speak American, but the Judge, DA, Public Defender may all speak Spanglish, Mexican, Farsi, ?

Yep, I need an interpreter. Especially when they throw in the ‘legalese dialect’ on top of all the rest.

[fogofbobegabay]

As an attorney practicing in Sonoma County Calif., it is I problem when your client or the other party does not speak English and has to rely on their teenage son or daughter. Yes, most are illegal, but you can’t take their kids away without them understanding what is going on. The last year or so they have been providing interpreters in the family law court rooms.

[M Kehoe]

Good afternoon.

California legally exists as a part of the Untied States. From a practical and cultural standpoint, California only exists in the geography.

Sad.

5.56mm

[Auntie Mame]

Oh, great. They no longer provide court reporters in civil cases, don’t know about criminal, because they say they don’t have the money, but they’ll find the money to provide free interpreters for people in this country who DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH.

Makes sense to me.