Simon Rios Trial Delayed-Gullible Language Barrier

Simon Rios's trial for the alleged murder of his wife and children has been delayed until October 2007. This would allow his defense team to better prepare for his trial. You have got to be kidding! This man does not speak English and probably the majority of the witnesses. Now, do we really think that the judge and the jurors will be fluent Spanish speaking by next year? This trial in Fort Wayne is a joke and will prove how unprepared its legal system is for a multicultural community. Here is a couple of poems by Martin Espada on the mockery of justice in a bias court system unable to speak the language.

"Offerings to an Ulcerated God"


Tell her she has to pay
and she has ten days to get out,
the judge commanded, rose
as the rest of the courtroom rose,
and left the bench. Suddenly
the courtroom clattered
with the end of business:
the clerk of the court
gathered her files
and the bailiff went to lunch.
Mrs. Lopez stood before the bench,
still holding up her fan of snapshots
like an offering this ulcerated god
refused to taste,
while the interpreter
felt the burning
bubble in his throat
as he slowly turned to face he

and "Mariano Explains Yanqui Colonialism to Judge Collings"

Does the prisoner understand his rights?

"¿Entiende usted sus derechos?"

"¡P'al carajo!

"Yes."

"His rights are carajo. His rights are worth nothing here. He is worth nothing here. For me, that made sense because for most Latinos, the legal system is just a series of mistranslations anyway." (a quote from Espada in Z mazagine.)