Bill would make entrants pay to use the civil courts

By Howard Fischer

CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES

PHOENIX — State lawmakers trotted out a new way Wednesday to deter people from entering the country illegally: Make them pay every time they use the court system.

Legislation approved by the House Appropriations Committee says anyone in the United States illegally no longer gets to use state's the civil justice system for free. Instead, they would have to pay for all the costs.

Sen. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, said she is particularly miffed that courts have interpreters on the payroll because some people don't understand English.

But SB 1265 would bill immigrants for other expenses, including the time spent by the judge, court staffers and the court reporter.

Gray said she is not trying to block those not here legally from having access to the courts for things like divorce, enforcing child support or any other civil matter.

"But pay for the use of the courts," she said.

One big cost, Gray said, is interpreters. She said Maricopa County Superior Court alone has more than 30 interpreters on staff and more than 100 on call, though she did not say how many are handling criminal cases, which would not be affected.

FYI - If you want or need to do anything in or with the Mexican court or legal system and you do not know Spanish, you must hire an interpreter yourself and have all your documents translated into Spanish. They will not accept any document that is not in Spanish and will not provide an interpreter. Spanish is the official language of Mexico. -mm