Monday, October 15, 2007

Arraigned, English.

As a brief follow up to a building codes-meets-First Amendment case: months later, the St. Lawrence County town court in question found a German/Penn. Dutch translator and the Amish men have been arraigned.

From Saturday's Watertown Daily Times:

Amish men are arraigned with help of translator
Saturday, October 13, 2007
MORRISTOWN — Code violation cases against eight Amish men took a small step Friday.
They were arraigned with the help of an Ogdensburg woman who translated German and its antiquated dialect, Pennsylvania Dutch, which the religious group uses. Town Judge James T. Phillips Jr. adjourned their cases until Jan. 11, giving Assistant St. Lawrence County Public Defender Steven G. Ballan time to prepare motions.

Judge Phillips appointed Mr. Ballan to represent the men.
They are accused of building and moving homes without permits. They do not deny the charges, but they say codes go against their religious beliefs.

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