Posted on 03/05/2005 12:08:14 AM PST by SmithL
LEBANON, Tenn. - A Hispanic woman who was ordered by a judge to learn English and use birth control or risk losing custody of her child is receiving free legal help and the aid of the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the nation's leading civil-rights organizations.
Attorney Jerry Gonzalez is representing one of two Hispanic women known to have been ordered to learn English by Wilson County Juvenile Court Judge Barry Tatum. Gonzalez confirmed that Birmingham, Ala.-based SPLC has agreed to enter the case on his client's behalf.
Formed in the 1970s, the organization monitors civil-rights cases across the nation and is regarded as one of the leading authorities on hate group activities in the United States.
"She now has three attorneys representing her as well as the resources of a nationally recognized civil-rights group behind her," Gonzalez said. "Not only are they experts in this field, they've also entered an application to pay for all costs.
"We will do everything humanly possible to protect her rights."
Gonzalez said the SPLC legal team has been briefed on the case and filed a formal motion seeking permission to join the legal fight, which is required for out-of-state attorneys.
An SPLC spokesman in Birmingham on Thursday confirmed the organization has entered the legal fray but referred questions regarding specifics to the group's legal director, who was not immediately available for comment.
Gonzalez has vowed to fight Tatum's directive all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary and also promised to attempt to seek state appeals court sanctions putting an end to such orders.
In January, Tatum drew attention after a custody hearing in which he made the orders of the woman.
Because juvenile court proceedings are confidential, its records are not open for public inspection, but Gonzalez confirmed he is representing a Hispanic woman who was placed under a similar order by Tatum.
Tatum could not be reached for comment Thursday, but has defended his order in the January case by saying he was trying to ensure the 2-year-old's future as an American by ordering the mother to learn English.
Tatum explained that he feared the child would not receive all the opportunities available as a U.S. citizen if not taught English.
He also acknowledged the birth control order was practically unenforceable and possibly unconstitutional, but said he issued it to emphasize the choices available to the woman.
Is she here legally?
I don't know why these judges care so much about one child, when they allow the murder of millions through abortions.
It looks like they just like to control people and exercise power, over justice and compassion.
Pro-Bush wrote:
Is she here legally?
--> It sounds like this is the kind of judge that would throw her out if she wasn't, i hope... I want this judge to force all those that dont speak english to learn it! Learn English or you WILL BE deported! Scumbags.
You have to feel sorry for this woman. Imagine coming to the United States and being forced to learn English. That must be real tough. After all, it's not like its the language the Constitution was written in or anything like that.
certainly . . . worthy of a court order, I am dubious.
Pro-Bush wrote:
If she is here legally, really upsetting that she can't take the initiative to learn English on her own. Am I wrong here?
--> I agree with you 200%. If i lived in a country that didn't speak english, I would expect to learn their language as well, at least well enough to communicate. But i guess that's why we have problems with these influx of immigrants (legal/illegal). They expect us to bend over for them. If they want someone to bend, they should goto france in my own opinion.
They come here claiming they want a better life, but if they really wanted that, they would learn english. Without english, your not going to get very far, but to them, making 4$ hour is more than what they make in their country and our level of "poverty" in the US is heaven compared to "poverty" in a third world country.
A local casino was fined $10,000 for "allowing" a nineteen year old Mexican a place at the slot machines. She dropped her wallet, and a casino worker picked it up. Upon realizing that she was underage, they escorted her out. However, because she was on videotape gambling, they were fined. She supposedly spoke NO English; and claimed that because there were no signs in Spanish telling her that she wasn't supposed to be gambling, she had NO idea that she was too young to gamble legally (yeah...right!). This is the third time this has happened to a casino in this state.
So, if you don't post every sign at your business in Spanish...you are SOL. Should be a warning to every business, I guess. All warranty; return; and other pertinent info should be posted in another country's language in order to avoid the hammer. What a great deal!
How was she able to understand what was in her purse?
How did she understand the slot machines?
I need help on the newer ones!
Best guess is, she had some money coming to her (illegally of course) and they wouldn't give it to her...as they had discovered she was underage. She complained.
I need help on the newer ones!
Oh geeze - I'm sure that it hasn't changed a bit since the last time I was in Las Vegas - you put your money in, and the house keeps it.
A good judge would have decreed that the other 250,000,000 were to learn Spanish.
IMO, if she's applying for, expecting, or receiving TENNESSEE taxpayer funded benefits, the SPLC legal team should be banned from representing her unless they are licensed in that state, operated there for minimum five years (as immigrant sponsors must) and have paid state and local taxes the entire time.
Better yet, I hope the judge orders SPLC to SUPPORT the louse.
So-called civil rights groups fighting good advice from a judge. Are they committed to keeping her bare-footed and pregnant, or what?
One of those sticky constitutional issues.
I assume this is a custody issue and she is here in this country legally and she has not committed a crime.
Can a judge force someone, who has not committed a crime, to do something or lose one's child?
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