A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to provide that certain judicial pleadings and proceedings in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be conducted in the Spanish language, and for other purposes.

Summary

Allows initial pleadings in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to be filed in either the Spanish or English language. Requires further pleadings and proceedings to be in English, unless the court allows the use of Spanish, upon the request of a criminal defendant, the agreement of all parties in a civil case, or upon the court's own motion. Provides that each written order and decision shall be in the language used in the trial or proceeding, except that on appeal all records and documents shall be in English. Prohibits the disqualification of persons on a grand or petit jury in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico solely because of a person's inability to speak, read, write and understand English if such person is able to speak, read, write, and understand the language in which the trial or proceeding is being conducted.

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1 official file

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 14 March 1979

  Open at official source

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