WOODLAND, Calif. – On Monday in Yolo County Superior Court, Judge Clara M. Levers acknowledged that a Vietnamese interpreter was needed for an arraignment hearing but said, “We won’t have [one]… I can Google Translate the date for the next hearing.” The lack of a qualified interpreter resulted in a two-week delay for the hearing.
The accused faces multiple charges, including two counts of petty theft with priors, conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of grand theft, organized retail theft, possession of controlled substances, and additional aggravating circumstances.
Court clerk Elizabeth Gatie informed the court that an interpreter was being arranged. Judge Levers responded, “Oh, that’s exciting.”
Conflict counsel Robert Aaron Gorman, who was temporarily substituting for the accused’s attorney, Caryn Warren, expressed concern about the lack of an interpreter. He told the court that he was unable to communicate with his client without one.
Gorman requested to pause the hearing for 20 minutes in an effort to locate a Vietnamese interpreter elsewhere in the courthouse. After returning empty-handed, Judge Levers suggested that either she or Gorman could use Google Translate to inform the accused of his next court date.
The accused appeared alongside a co-defendant, also in custody, as both face conspiracy charges. Off the record, Gorman suggested that one of the men explain the date to the other. Judge Levers objected, stating she did not want the co-defendants speaking to each other due to the nature of the charges.
Ultimately, Judge Levers used Google Translate to print out a sheet with information about the next court date and handed it to the accused. The document included the date of the preliminary hearing.
The accused remains in custody with bail set at $10,000. A preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for May 9 to address bail and a complaint filed by both defendants.
Gorman told the court he would contact Warren to arrange for a Vietnamese interpreter to be present at the May 9 hearing. Judge Levers responded that the court would “do [its] best” to ensure an interpreter is available.
