Opinion ID: 197384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Spanish Definitions in Jury Instructions

Text: 57 Appellant Montalvo claims that the district court erred in its instructions to the jury. Specifically, he alleges that the court included in its definition of the term willfully a Spanish translation that is inaccurate. 58 In delivering its instructions, the court stated the following: 59 The word knowingly, as that term has been used from time to time in these instructions, means that the act was done voluntarily and intentionally and not because of mistake or accident. That is, knowingly means in Spanish a sabiendas. 60 The word willfully--that is voluntariamente in Spanish--as that term has been used from time to time in these instructions, means that the act was committed voluntarily and purposely with the specific intent to do something the law forbids; that is to say, with bad purpose either to disobey or disregard the law.... 61 Now, unlawfully--in Spanish ilegalmente--means contrary to law. 62 Tr. 9 at 1704-05. 63 Montalvo argues that the term voluntariamente is equivalent to the English term voluntary and, therefore, represents only one aspect of willfulness. As the English definition suggests, willfulness also requires that the act be committed purposely and with the intent to do something that the law forbids. See United States v. Yefsky, 994 F.2d 885, 899 (1st Cir.1993). We conclude that Montalvo is correct in his assertion that the term voluntariamente means voluntary. See The Collins Spanish-English English-Spanish Dictionary (2d ed.1988). It follows that the use of this term in order to assist jurors, whose predominant language may be Spanish, in understanding the term willfully was ill-advised. We need not inquire into the question of whether it is reversible error, however, as we are reversing the judgment on other grounds. 64 We add the following note of caution. Although we do not believe that there should be an absolute rule prohibiting the use of non-English words when instructing the jury, we do believe that this practice is inadvisable and should be discouraged. The English meaning of the word willfully, for example, is adequately covered by an instruction such as those that have been approved by this court in the past. See, e.g., United States v. Shadduck, 112 F.3d 523, 527-28 (1st Cir.1997); Yefsky, 994 F.2d at 899. 3 We therefore instruct the district courts to frame instructions in English.