FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 5, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Aeda Chung, Marketing Coordinator
202.393.3572 x 32; aeda.chung@apalrc.org
Nadia Firozvi, Staff Attorney
202.393.3572 x 23; nadia.firozvi@apalrc.org
Maryland Court of Appeals to Hear Oral Arguments Concerning Legal Rights of Limited English Proficient Litigants
(Annapolis, Maryland) The highest state court of Maryland will hear oral arguments on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, concerning the legal rights of limited English proficient litigants. The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (Center), joined by CASA de Maryland and the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Ms. Nonceeya, a Thai speaking and limited English proficient immigrant, in the matter of Nonceeya v. Lone Star Steakhouse. The Public Justice Center is acting as co-counsel in this appeal.The Center’s brief provided the necessary contextual information about the limited English proficient community and the Maryland judiciary’s responsibilities under the law as language barriers continue to prevent limited English proficient (LEP) litigants from accessing courts.
Ms. Nonceeya had worked at Lone Star Steakhouse for just over two years and filed a national-origin employment discrimination complaint against Lone Star’s managers and staff. She filed this complaint in the Montgomery County Circuit Court against her former employer without the assistance of an attorney, and requested the assistance of an interpreter at all court proceedings, which was granted by the Circuit Court. Lone Star Steakhouse, however, failed to provide an interpreter during a deposition that lasted for three days in English. The deposition later served as a basis for the Circuit Court’s decision as the court granted Lone Star’s motion for summary judgment.
The Center urges the Court of Appeals to ensure access to justice for all Maryland residents, regardless of language ability. The Center’s experience with advancing the legal and civil rights of hundreds of limited English proficient Asian immigrants underscores the need to provide interpretation in court proceedings.
The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center is the Capital Region’s nonprofit advocate advancing the legal and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans through direct services, education, and advocacy.
The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
D.C. Office 1600 K Street, NW, Mezzanine Level, Washington, D.C. 20006
♦ Helpline: 202.393.3572 Fax: 202.393.0995
Main: Ext. 22
Chinese: Ext. 18
Hindi/Urdu: Ext. 19
Vietnamese: Ext. 20
Korean: Ext. 21
Maryland Office 11141 Georgia Avenue, Suite 215, Silver Spring, MD 20902
♦ Phone: 301.942.2223
APALRC: Ensuring Access to Justice for Asian Pacific Americans Since 1998
www.apalrc.org
Many Thanks to Claudia Johnson for pointing us to this!
-RFW
Filed under: 1, Court, LEP, Law, Legal, Legal Documents, Legalese, Limited English Proficiency, Plain English, Plain Language, Readability, access to justice, access to justice blog, attorney, blog , Aeda Chung, APALRC, Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, CASA de Maryland, LEP, Lone Star Steakhouse, Maryland, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Montgomery County Circuit Court, Ms. Nonceeya, Public Justice Center, www.apalrc.org
October 8, 2009 • 11:52 am 0
Elkins Family Law Task Force Recommendations Open for Comment
On October 2, 2009, the Elkins Family Law Task Force released its draft recommendations for ways to improve access to justice in the California Family Court system.
The public comment period is October 1, 2009, through December 4, 2009.
The draft recommendations and an online comment form are available at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jc/tflists/elkins.htm.
In addition, the task force will hold two public hearings to receive in-person comments on the draft recommendations. The public hearings will be held on Thursday, October 22 in San Francisco, and on Tuesday, October 27 in Los Angeles. For information and to sign up to participate in the public hearings, go to www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jc/tflists/elkins.htm.
To learn more about the Task Force, view the FACT SHEET.
It’s evident from the List of Topics (below) that the Task Force worked hard to review the entire system:
1. Right to Present Live Testimony at Hearings
2. Expanding Legal Representation and Providing a Continuum of Legal Services
3. Caseflow Management
4. Providing Clear Guidance Through Rules of Court
5. Children’s Voices
6. Domestic Violence
7. Enhancing Safety
8. Contested Child Custody
9. Minor’s Counsel
10. Scheduling of Trials and Long-Cause Hearings
11. Litigant Education
12. Expanding Services to Assist Litigants in Resolving Their Cases
13. Streamlining Family Law Forms and Procedures
14. Enhancing Mechanisms to Handle Perjury
15. Standardize Default and Uncontested Process Statewide
16. Interpreters
17. Public Information and Outreach
18. Judicial Branch Education
19. Family Law Research Agenda
20. Court Facilities
21. Leadership, Accountability, and Resources
The SC Access to Justice Commission will continue to follow the project and update you as it develops.
-RFW
Filed under: 1, Civil Gideon, Court, LEP, Law, Legal, Legal Documents, Legal Drafting, Legalese, Limited English Proficiency, Plain English, Plain Language, Readability, Right to Counsel, Rule of Law, South Carolina Access to Justice Commission, access to justice, access to justice blog, advocacy, attorney, blog, children, court innovation, divorce, domestic violence, elderly, foster parents, indigent, law librarians, law students, legal aid, poverty, poverty guidelines, public interest attorney, self-represented litigant , California Courts, California Family Court system, Draft Recommendations, Elkins Family Law Task Force, Public Comment, public hearings