Language access: court lacked Cantonese interpreter; defendant accepts mitigation with reduced fine

A defendant who requested a Cantonese interpreter for a May 12 hearing at Lake Forest Park Municipal Court was told no Cantonese interpreter was available; the court suggested Mandarin if useful, but the Mandarin interpreter had already left for the day. Because the defendant said his English was limited, the judge proceeded with mitigation and reduced the fine.

The courtroom clerk and Judge Jennifer Grant attempted to identify a caller who joined by phone as needing Cantonese. The caller (Mr. Kwok) said he understood Mandarin “about 90%” but preferred Cantonese. The judge said the court’s Mandarin interpreter used earlier in the session was no longer available, and the defendant acknowledged limited English comprehension.

After the exchange the court proceeded with the scheduled hearing in English, the judge mitigated the first‑offense school‑zone photo or speeding violation and reduced the fine to $75, and the clerk said the court would mail the updated invoice. The judge told the defendant he could pay in person or wait for mail instructions.

The court also had a Mandarin interpreter, Amy Tan, on the record earlier in the session for another defendant (Yang Feng Zhang); that interpreter identified herself as a Washington State Court‑certified mentor interpreter. The judge said she would handle interpreter requests as they appear and noted the court’s limited interpreter availability during the hearing.

The exchange shows that language‑access capacity affected how a defendant participated in a routine infraction calendar; the court documented mitigation and mailing of paperwork rather than postponing the matter for a Cantonese interpreter.