New Mexico high court ruling: Non-English speakers can be jurors (school, program)
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Not talking about MEXICO. The topic of the thread is New Mexico.
You do know that NEW Mexico is a state in the union, right? Has been since 1912.
I know, having lived there, that people do sometimes have problems recognizing that NEW Mexico is a state, but, it is. And Spanish is spoken there by a large percentage of the population, as is Navajo and Tewa and Apache...
It is a very special place.
And was spoken here in New Mexico before English was. Some people here are getting carried away from an appeals court in New Mexico saying that potential jurors of any language other than English will have translators. There are more instances of jurors being improperly excused because they spoke Navajo, rather than Spanish-speakers.
Speaking of, I heard a report on NPR this morning that noted that sales clerks in Miami are having to learn Portuguese to assist the many Brazilian customers that patronize their stores.
Why, you might ask, would they go to such lengths? Because it is good for business.
Imagine that.
Anyway, getting back to New Mexico - the majority of the Spanish speakers there are not foreigners.
I see, so now Americans are going to have to learn foreign languages to accommodate tourists? We have tourists that come here from all over the world. Shall we learn 10-20 different languages to accommodate them? Why not have a couple of clerks that can speak their language rather than the whole workforce?
Who said that the majority of New Mexicans are foreigners?
Not talking about MEXICO. The topic of the thread is New Mexico.
You do know that NEW Mexico is a state in the union, right? Has been since 1912.
I know, having lived there, that people do sometimes have problems recognizing that NEW Mexico is a state, but, it is.
And Spanish is spoken there by a large percentage of the population, as is Navajo and Tewa and Apache...
If you haven't learned english and are eligible for a jury it means you are hanging onto your cultural mores. It would be the same as the iranian president sitting on a jury in NYC deciding the fate of a women or lbgt defendant.
Behavior accepted in one culture is a crime in another. One big problem we face is the clash of the integrated gangster culture vs legislated law. Other differences may be just as significant.
Imagine your fate depending on the accuracy of a translator.
If you haven't learned english and are eligible for a jury it means you are hanging onto your cultural mores. It would be the same as the iranian president sitting on a jury in NYC deciding the fate of a women or lbgt defendant.
Behavior accepted in one culture is a crime in another. One big problem we face is the clash of the integrated gangster culture vs legislated law. Other differences may be just as significant.
Imagine your fate depending on the accuracy of a translator.
Social justice ruling for sure.
Actually it is the New Mexico Supreme Court reenforcing to the court system of the state about something that has been in place for the entirety of New Mexico's constitution (drafted in 1911) and its statehood. This isn't a new change, it isn't in any way about illegal aliens ("illegal aliens" weren't in the lexicon of 1911). New Mexico will provide a translator for any language if the juror is unable to sufficiently understand English in court proceedings.
Quit trying to change my state if you don't like the law of the land here...
If you can't speak the de facto official language of the United States, i.e. English, you should be dismissed from the pool.
The New Mexico Supreme Court, as well as its state constitution (written in a time of more Spanish-speakers in the state than English, and probably also eclipsed by Navajo), disagrees with you...
The New Mexico Supreme Court, as well as its state constitution (written in a time of more Spanish-speakers in the state than English, and probably also eclipsed by Navajo), disagrees with you...
What has two thumbs and doesn't give a crap?
(Hint: This girl.)
I don't live in New Mexico. Thank g-d.
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