Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

When a trial judge is aware that the defendant has a problem understanding English, the judge has an independent duty, absent a knowing and voluntary waiver by the defendant, to implement defendant's right to have an interpreter translate the trial proceedings into a language the defendant understands. Here, defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront the witnesses against him was violated.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/24/2004
• Published 03/24/2004

Judges

Court

• Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John J. Davis, Angleton, for Appellant., Jeffrey D. Kyle, Asst. DA, Angleton, Matthew Paul, State's Attorney, Austin, for State.