Cortez-Rivas v. Commonwealth

PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Mims, Powell, Kelsey, McCullough, and Chafin, JJ., and Russell, S.J. JULIO CORTEZ-RIVAS OPINION BY v. Record No. 210011 JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2022 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA Julio Cortez-Rivas challenges his rape conviction, arguing that the prosecution violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause of the United States Constitution by failing to produce as a witness a police officer who translated for a detective at the scene of the crime. At trial, however, the Commonwealth offered the testimony of a…