Re: Is "plain English" required in California courts?

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Supreme Law Firm Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Two Cities on September 15, 1998 at 14:47:23:

In Reply to: Is "plain English" required in California courts? posted by Paul Andrew Mitchell, B.A., M.S. on September 15, 1998 at 13:21:06:

:
: : Here are a few things in California Codes regarding the English Language.

: : California Government Code 11342 (e). "Plain English" means language that can be interpreted by a person who has not more thatn an eight grade level of proficiency in English.

: : California Code of Civil Procedure 185. Every written proceeding in a court of justice in this State shall be in the English language, and judicial proceeding shall be conducted, preserved, and published, in no other.

: :
: : California Code of Civil Procedure 186. Such abbreviations as are in common use may be used, and numbers may be expressed by figures or numerals in the customary manner.

: :
: : California Code of Civil Procedure 203. (a) All persons are eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except the following:
: : (6)Persons who are not possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language,...

: :
: : California Evidence Code 451. Judicial notice shall be taken of the following:
: : (e) The true signification of all English words and phrases and of all legal expressions.

: : There is also case law for the use of English in judicial proceedings, but it is not at my fingertips at the moment.

: : New Kid

:
: Am I correct to infer from these statutes
: that California courts are NOT required
: to use "plain English"?

small point. "Plain English", or "plain English"
given the original quotation marks I'd go with the former.

: Is my construction correct, or not?

: And, if not, then why not?

: Your constructive comments are most
: appreciated.

: I would have to argue that "plain English"
: is impossible in California courts, because
: the California Legislature has not complied
: with this requirement in MOST of their laws.

All I saw, was that "Plain English" was once defined.
Was it ever used again?
All other references were with respect to "English".
Proficiency in as well as significance of the meaning
of words and the legal expressions constructed from words.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : : : : Here are a few things in California Codes regarding the English Language. : : : California Government Code 11342 (e). "Plain English" means language that can be interpreted by a person who has not more thatn an eight grade level of proficiency in English. : : : California Code of Civil Procedure 185. Every written proceeding in a court of justice in this State shall be in the English language, and judicial proceeding shall be conducted, preserved, and published, in no other. : : : : : : California Code of Civil Procedure 186. Such abbreviations as are in common use may be used, and numbers may be expressed by figures or numerals in the customary manner. : : : : : : California Code of Civil Procedure 203. (a) All persons are eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except the following: : : : (6)Persons who are not possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language,... : : : : : : California Evidence Code 451. Judicial notice shall be taken of the following: : : : (e) The true signification of all English words and phrases and of all legal expressions. : : : There is also case law for the use of English in judicial proceedings, but it is not at my fingertips at the moment. : : : New Kid : : : : Am I correct to infer from these statutes : : that California courts are NOT required : : to use "plain English"? : small point. "Plain English", or "plain English" : given the original quotation marks I'd go with the former. : : Is my construction correct, or not? : : And, if not, then why not? : : Your constructive comments are most : : appreciated. : : I would have to argue that "plain English" : : is impossible in California courts, because : : the California Legislature has not complied : : with this requirement in MOST of their laws. : All I saw, was that "Plain English" was once defined. : Was it ever used again? : All other references were with respect to "English". : Proficiency in as well as significance of the meaning : of words and the legal expressions constructed from words.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Supreme Law Firm Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]