State v. Gonzales-Morales

— In Jairo Gonzales-Morales’s trial for second degree assault, the court appointed an interpreter to facilitate Gonzales-Morales’s communications with his attorney. When a Spanish-speaking witness for the State testified, the court “borrowed” Gonzales-Morales’s court-appointed interpreter to translate the State’s witness’s testimony. If Gonzales-Morales wished to speak to his attorney during this time, he was to request a recess from the court. He did not do so, and the jury returned a guilty verdict.

On appeal, Gonzales-Morales alleges this use of his interpreter violated both his Sixth…