August 2004
CLE Books' Spanish-English reference guide receives
outstanding achievement award
State Bar CLE Books proudly announces that its pocket-sized
Spanish-English reference work, Critical Terms in Criminal
Proceedings in Spanish and English, won the Association for
Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) 2004 Outstanding Achievement award.
The award was presented at the association's annual meeting in Denver on
Aug. 1. ACLEA, an international organization for CLE professionals and
their organizations, annually gives out "ACLEA's Best" awards in four
categories: publications, programs, marketing, and public interest
activities. Critical Terms won the public interest
category.
Coauthors Madison attorney Ron Benavides and assistant state public
defender Luis Cuevas were delighted to hear of the award and emphasized
that the book was a team effort that included contributions by volunteer
reviewers: attorney Francisco Araiza, an assistant state public defender
in Milwaukee and past president of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers
Association; Brenda Bartholomew, a court interpreter in Milwaukee; and
attorney John Nowell, Catholic Charities in Milwaukee, along with
Nowell's attorney-students in Mexico. Attorney Rita Knauss of State Bar
CLE Books edited the book.
Critical Terms is intended primarily for criminal defense
attorneys with Spanish-speaking clients, but it also has proven useful
for court interpreters, courtroom personnel, and Spanish-speaking
defendants and their families. According to the authors, the book
improves the standard of representation of Spanish-speaking defendants
by helping to ensure that they understand what is happening, are
informed of their rights and options, and are better equipped to assist
in their defense.
The heart of the book is a glossary of 70 terms commonly used in
criminal and traffic proceedings. This glossary, thoroughly researched
by criminal defense attorneys experienced in the defense of
Spanish-speaking clients, provides clear, plain-language descriptions of
the criminal process in dialect-neutral Spanish. Its chronological
arrangement helps clients better understand the individual terms and the
criminal process. The descriptions also are provided in English for easy
reference by attorneys and interpreters.
Critical Terms also contains supplemental material of
interest to court interpreters, including state statutes relating to
court interpreters and information concerning the state's court
interpreter training and certification program. Finally, the book
includes a list of community resources for Spanish-speaking clients and
their families.
The glossary is available for $10, plus tax, shipping, and
handling.
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