Discretionary Use of English in Court Proceedings
- The Supreme Court or Court of First Instance may order the creation and enrollment of a duplicate record in English in any proceedings when it promotes public convenience and benefits the parties.
Rights of Parties and Counsel Regarding Language
- Parties or their counsel have the right to examine or cross-examine witnesses or make oral arguments in English.
- Oral English arguments must be clearly interpreted into Spanish by a court interpreter if the judge requires it.
- Written or printed briefs may be submitted in English if accompanied by an accurate Spanish translation.
Stipulated Use of English in Proceedings
- If all parties or counsel stipulate in writing and the court consents, proceedings may be conducted entirely in English.
- In such cases, records of pleadings, bills of exceptions, and judgments need not be translated into Spanish.
Use of English in Appeals when Trial Conducted in English
- When a case is tried in English at the trial court level (civil or criminal), English shall also be used in the Supreme Court on appeal.
- Briefs submitted in the Supreme Court under this circumstance must include a Spanish translation.
Filing of Specific Applications in English
- Applications for injunctions, receiverships, certiorari proceedings, mandates, prohibitions, arrest of defendant, or attachments can be filed in English without prior Spanish translation.
- The filing party must provide a Spanish translation within two days of filing.
- The court may extend this period up to ten days depending on the length of the document.
Effectivity
- The Act took effect immediately upon its passage on May 20, 1909.