Opinion ID: 1435822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bilingual Jurors Foreign Language Evidence Special Instructions Required

Text: In trials involving foreign language testimony and English translation when one or more jurors are bilingual, federal judges endeavor to maintain a completely impartial jury by giving special instructions to the entire jury panel prior to opening arguments and at the end of the case, which state: Languages other than English may be used during this trial. The evidence you are to consider is only that provided through the official court (interpreters) (translators). Although some of you may know the non-English language used, it is important that all jurors consider the same evidence. Therefore, you must base your decision on the evidence presented in the English (interpretation) (translation). You must disregard any different meaning of the non-English words. [29] These instructions direct the bilingual jurors to base their judgment only upon the admissible evidence introduced at trial, i.e. the English translation. Consequently, as in any other situation where the court seeks to cure any prejudice or unfairness by instructing the jury to disregard inadmissible evidence or testimony, federal trial judges are instructing the bilingual juror to: ignore the inadmissible evidence; base their judgment solely on the admissible evidence; and refrain from discussing inadmissible evidence in the jury room. [30] Similarly, these instructions, like other curative admonitions, direct all jurors to disregard inadmissible evidence when they deliberate. [31] We have concluded that these types of instructions should be given by Delaware judges in appropriate circumstances, e.g., those extant at Diaz's trial. We also concur with Justice Kennedy's suggestion in Hernandez that it would also be appropriate to instruct bilingual jurors to discreetly advise the trial judge through the bailiff of any concerns they may have about the English translation during trial. This should be accomplished by a written note. Once the discrepancy is resolved, after consultation with the attorney's on the record, the trial judge should again instruct the bilingual juror to rely only upon the official translation by the court's interpreter. The bilingual juror should also be reminded not to discuss with the other jurors any of his or her own variation on that translation. [32]