Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!gvlf3.gvl.unisys.com!tredysvr!cellar!max From: max@cellar.UUCP (Maxwell Smart) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Fate of the FOIA Message-ID: Date: 1 Jun 91 18:53:59 GMT References: <8aFV35w164w@cellar.UUCP> Sender: bbs@cellar.UUCP (The Cellar BBS) Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system Lines: 33 rogue@cellar.UUCP (Rache McGregor) writes: > The purpose of having jurors who are capable of understanding the testimony > in its original form is to have someone who can independently corroborate or > challenge the official translator, and who is obligated to do so. The > probable "solution" that will arise when bilingual jurors are barred will be > for the prosecution and defense to each have separate translators, who would > constantly object to the "gloss" each is giving to the defendant's testimony. Rache, I think that the reason they do this is to avoid a prejudical situation. Immagine the following: A is on trial, B is a spanish-only speaking witness against him, C is a spanish-speaking juror prejudiced in FAVOR of the defendant. There are no other spanish-speaking jurors. In this situation, C could possibly (and without challenge) convince the other jurors that the translator did a poor job and left out something the completely undermines the witnesses testomny. This is usually a situation to be avoided - when one juror has a type of knowledge that cannot be disputed by other jury members because they do not possess that knowledge. They only "fair" way around this is that no one or the jury may be bilingual. Personally, I feel that the alternative, all jurors are bilingual is just as good. However, anything in between, where even one juror can be swayed by the "evidence distortion" I exampled above is undesireable. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I think; therefore, I can't be a Socialist." - Thomas Landsberger max@cellar.uucp - A public BBS with optional net access 215-336-9503 HST/V32