It is important that you inform court clerks as soon as possible that you need an interpreter. If the judge can`t find an interpreter in time, they may have to postpone your case. Q. If I don`t have a lawyer, can the judge help me present my case? Judges are not substitute lawyers. However, judges are responsible for ensuring that the trial is fair and, to that end, they may give instructions or instructions to an unrepresented person in procedural and other matters. This is a very limited type of guidance, as the judge must remain impartial and cannot favour one party over another. Judges can`t give you legal advice, present your case for you, or even help you get the score with the other party. Our services are offered in English. If you are unable to communicate with our staff in English and cannot speak on the phone with someone who can interpret for you, we can arrange an interpreter. All judgments are based on a judge`s thorough consideration of the relevant legal principles and the appropriate range of penalties applicable to the offence. In determining the appropriate sentence, the judge draws on Part XXIII of the Criminal Code, which sets out sentencing principles, and case law.
Section 718 (2) (e) of the Criminal Code provides that judges must consider all sentences other than imprisonment that are appropriate in the circumstances, and they must pay particular attention to the situation of indigenous people. • involved in proceedings before the family court, traffic court or municipal code; • do not have a lawyer; and • need an interpreter or call a witness who needs a Q interpreter. When does the Judicial Services Division of the British Columbia Ministry of the Attorney General provide a free interpreter? The Court Services Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of the Attorney General is responsible for the operation of our courthouses. It provides free visual speech interpretation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in all types of procedures. For links to other types of glossaries of legal terms, see www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/Glossaries. Answers to frequently asked questions about the Provincial Court: This website provides general information about the Provincial Court and the court system in British Columbia. The Comments are provided for informational purposes only and may not be relied upon as legal advice or authority in connection with any court or other legal process. If you are a witness in criminal proceedings, tell the Crown or defence lawyer who calls you as a witness that you need an interpreter. You will make the necessary arrangements. Ask your local clerk`s clerk to hire an interpreter when you submit your application or when you first appear in court.
You can also tell a judge or clerk that you need an interpreter when scheduling a hearing or hearing. Appeal There is an appeal system that involves the review of the decision of the trial judge by one or more appellate judges in the light of the relevant legal principles. In some cases, the decision of the Court of Appeal may be subject to further appeal. An unlawful acquittal or sentence deemed too lenient can be challenged by the Crown (prosecutor`s office) representing the public in court proceedings, just as the defendant can appeal the conviction or verdict. The fact that only a very small number of all criminal cases dealt with by trial courts are contested and even fewer are overturned on appeal suggests that most court decisions are accepted as appropriate and correct by the Crown (acting on behalf of the public) and by the courts of appeal. For more information, see www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/. Iowa has a roster of “certified” interpreters. The court will appoint a sworn interpreter, if he has one. If there is none, the court may appoint a person to another list of interpreters.
If no interpreter is available from one of these two lists, the court may appoint any qualified person. Q. Where can I find explanations and translations of legal terms? The public perception that “justice has been done in hundreds of cases today” is not a story. The approximately 100,000 discrete criminal cases dealt with each year by the provincial court are not newsworthy. Nevertheless, many citizens rely primarily on the media for information about the judicial system. Years ago, courts in the U.K. relied on newspapers to report cases as precedents. They published the full verdict word for word, and lawyers and judges used these reports as legal authority. For a variety of reasons, today`s media generally do not report on court proceedings in such detail. These resources can help you find free or low-cost legal advice if you can`t afford a lawyer. This material is borrowed from a page on the Saskatchewan Provincial Court website, with modifications made to reflect British Columbia procedures and resources. The information provided is provided for general educational purposes only.
This is not legal advice. For specific information, contact a lawyer. Judges generally live in the municipalities over which they preside. Many of them, as well as their neighbours, have been victims of crime. It would be wrong to assume that judges are remote from the experiences and concerns of our society, or that they have an inherent motivation different from that of other members of the community. Judges not only want justice, they are obliged to apply it and are subject to the rule of law. They are also passionate about justice and fulfilling their duties conscientiously, fairly and responsibly. Among the hundreds of sentences handed down in British Columbia.