Lake Forest Park court continues Dang case after Vietnamese interpreter not arranged

Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge Grant continued the Aug. 11 infraction hearing for a defendant identified as Dang (case 250197483) after the court learned a Vietnamese interpreter requested on the record was not available. The infraction clerk told Dang that the court would order a Vietnamese interpreter and set a new hearing date.

Court access advocates and defendants say language access is critical because many traffic- and infraction-related consequences depend on a person’s ability to participate. Judge Grant told the Zoom hearing that because an interpreter had been requested but not provided, the matter could not proceed and would be rescheduled so an interpreter could attend.

During the virtual calendar, the infraction clerk notified Dang that no Vietnamese interpreter had been arranged and that the court would set the case over to a later date to secure one. Dang confirmed he understood and said having an interpreter was acceptable. The clerk said the defendant would receive notice of the new date by mail.

The clerk opened the afternoon infraction calendar after noting the continuance and explained that the court would set the new date “a couple weeks from now so we can have the interpreter.” The court recorded that the matter was continued for lack of the requested language assistance.

Scheduling and interpreter logistics were handled by court staff; no penalties or factual determinations were made at the Aug. 11 session because the hearing was postponed. The court did not state a specific new date in the record; it said the defendant would receive the new hearing date by mail.

The postponement preserves the defendant’s right to a proceeding with a qualified interpreter present. The clerk said the continued hearing would be rescheduled and that the defendant should expect notice in the mail.