What did they say? Who knows.
Why does it matter to understand? How is that even a question?
Enough. There is no punishment or justice that can be handed down if the person accused of a crime had no access to the information being brought against him. What that means is our system values communication when attempting to figure out what to do with the legal matter. Obstacles disrupting the flow of coummuication between the mouth of the court and the ear of the defendant lead to a break down in understanding and communication.
Language barriers are a glaring obstacle for any flow of information. A court rooms are difficult enough to understand, adding variables or obstacles makes the matter worse.
The qualifications for an interpreter can be found at California Government Code 68560.5. There are exceptions that can be made when there is an absolute need and there are no other means to interpret a message to a defendant. For example: Many Courts will allow a Spanish Speaking Attorney the ability to explain to their client what was conveyed by the court. There is a legal procedure which allows this mechanism commonly found at Penal Code 977. This code allows an Attorney the power to appear on behalf of their client without the client present. The code is often used in misdemeanor matters that do not involve domestic violence or other accusation involving a criminal protective order. Felonies are usually excluded from Penal Code 977, however exceptions are often made by a court in order to have a client understand the proceedings when there is a lack of interpreters.
Criminal Courts are dry and stale as it is – interpreting that mood to an accused and having an exchange of a conversation between a court and a defendant can be blurry and fuzzy. It is a game of telephone through different languages. And often two separate language speaking interpreters are needed in one case to get the message through. Whoo Eeeh is right! It gets rough. The message is slowed down and thoughts have to adjust to a pace not often spoken.
The job of an interpreter is to hear the words being spoken in court but also to adjust to the flavor of what is saying. In other words the interpreter can not just and should not just interpret word for word what they are hearing. The interpreter needs to hear the words, analyze the message, mentally create that message in a words that can be understood in the new language and then moving all the body parts of the face to express those words to the listener. It is not an easy task. But it is a task the courts utilize and hope and trust the interpreter is getting the correct message to the listener.
If the message is not understood, then our system of communication and understanding, breaks down and our system fails to meet the standard it set out for itself. Sounds like the Interpreter is an important part of our system – and that is because they are.