Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Couple loses appeal over Pa. Dutch interpreter

Jan. 8, 2013

HARRISBURG -- A state appeals court says a judge didn't make a mistake when he denied a couple's request to have a courtroom interpreter for their native tongue, Pennsylvania Dutch.

A Commonwealth Court panel ruled Friday against Joseph and Barbara Yoder, who had each been fined $300 for the summary offense of failing to connect to the public sewage system in Warren County.

The ruling says the Yoders exhibited a sufficient grasp of English in the court documents they filed and at trial. Pennsylvania Dutch is a German-based dialect.

Pennsylvania court rules require an interpreter if a judge determines the parties have a limited ability to speak or understand English.

The appeals court also upheld the guilty verdict. A phone listing couldn't be located for the Sugar Grove couple.

source: ydr

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