Judge Rules Quebec’s Court Translation Language Law is Ineffective

A Quebec court judge has ruled a portion of the province’s language law invalid. This part of the law required English-language court decisions to be immediately translated into French.

Dennis Galiatsatos, in a decision on May 15, stated that the mandate for courts to provide a French translation simultaneously with a written decision in English would cause delays for English-speaking defendants in the legal process.

An amendment to the Quebec language charter set to take effect on June 1 requires a French translation to be provided “immediately and without delay.”

Galiatsatos pointed out that translations can take weeks or months to complete and approve, leading to delays in verdicts and forcing those choosing to be tried in English to wait longer for their outcome. He argued that the terms “immediately and without delay” are not consistent with the language rights outlined in the Criminal Code and should not be applied in criminal proceedings.

Quebec’s Justice Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, indicated that the government plans to appeal the decision. He maintained that the article in question is not discriminatory and is not intended to impede legal proceedings.

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