Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Rosa Baltierra, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

September 19, 19791979 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1611

Summary

The Court held that when a defendant does not speak or understand English, the trial court must provide an interpreter to translate the proceedings, including witness testimony, and that failure to do so violates the Sixth Amendment confrontation right. The conviction was reversed and remanded. Justice Davis dissented, arguing that an interpreter is not required absent a request by counsel.