APPEALS COURT: JURORS MUST UNDERSTAND ENGLISH

The state Court of Appeals threw out a drug conviction on Thursday because
a juror did not understand English.

Andrew Lee Orozco was appealing verdicts finding him guilty of unlawful
possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and
possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

The appeals court said the trial court erred by denying his challenge for
cause to a prospective juror who did not understand the English language.

"The failure of a prospective juror to meet a qualification for jury
service operates as a basis for a challenge for cause rather than as an
absolute prohibition to service," the appeals court ruled.

A Korean woman on the jury told the judge she had a difficult time
understanding English. The judge offered to provide written instructions,
rejecting a request from defense attorneys to have her removed.