Official Languages in Courts

Section 12(a) requires that the official language of all courts and their records shall be English unless the Philippine Legislature provides otherwise.
Section 12(a) provides that until January 1, 1930, Spanish shall be also an official language of the courts and their records.
Section 12(a) authorizes the Supreme Court and any Court of First Instance, justice of the peace court, municipal court, or other court of similar jurisdiction established in the future to order that its records be made in either English or Spanish for the public convenience and the interests of the parties.
Section 12(a) allows a party and/or counsel to examine witnesses and make oral argument in English or Spanish.

Section 12(a) requires that when the other party or counsel does not understand the language used for examination or oral argument and requests, the court must interpret what is said into the other language through a court interpreter.
Section 12(a) permits any party or counsel to submit any petition, motion, pleading, brief, document, or evidence in either English or Spanish.
Section 12(a) allows submission in either English or Spanish without an accompanying translation into the other language.
Section 12(a) makes the record language follow stipulation or request in specific cases (see next section).

Section 12(a) provides that in cases where all the parties or counsel stipulate in writing, the language used in the record shall follow the stipulation.
Section 12(a) provides that in criminal actions, when the accused requests, the language used in the record shall follow the request.
The record language under written stipulation or the accused’s request is governed by Section 12(a).

Section 12(a) provides that proceedings in justice of the peace courts shall be in the Spanish language.
Section 12(a) creates an exception for justice of the peace courts when the justice speaks English and there is an official interpreter.
Section 12(a) provides an additional exception where all the parties or their counsel speak English.
In these exceptions, justice of the peace court proceedings are governed by the Spanish-language rule unless the stated English conditions are met.

Section 12(a) establishes the right to request interpretation when the opposing party or counsel does not understand the language used in examination or oral argument.
Section 12(a) recognizes a functional procedure for interpretation “then and there” through a court interpreter when requested.
Section 12(a) establishes a filing procedure that allows submitting pleadings, motions, briefs, documents, or evidence in English or Spanish without translation into the other language.
Section 12(a) authorizes court discretion for record language through orders in qualifying courts for public convenience and the interests of the parties.