By Bob Katzen

The groups Lawyers for Civil Rights, Centro Presente and the Brazilian Worker Center have joined forces and filed a brief to challenge possible bias against Non-English speakers in criminal proceedings. The brief argues that, in cases in which a defendant requires an interpreter, the court should be required to ask potential jurors about their biases against non-English speakers and immigrants during the jury selection process.

“Establishing procedures to guard against bias in criminal proceedings is essential to ensuring a fair judicial process and a trial based on evidence rather than prejudice,” said Oren Nimni, Staff Attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights.