Spanish-speaking counsel joins Adolfo Valentin-Morales case

A Spanish-speaking attorney was appointed to what became the defense team for Adolfo Valentin-Morales on Friday morning.
Valentin-Morales, 29, of Lynchburg is charged with first-degree murder in the New Year’s Day slaying of a Hispanic man identified by two names: Aberzae Lopez-Arellano and Pedro Lopez-Cruz.
Valentin-Morales only speaks Spanish, defense attorney Leigh Drewry told Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge Mosby Perrow on Friday. Drewry asked that retired attorney Rob Gray of Appomattox, who speaks Spanish, be appointed to help with the case.
State and federal law requires interpreters to be provided by the court for defendants who can’t afford to provide their own. The Supreme Court of Virginia certifies interpreters, but the law does not require the local court to appoint a certified interpreter.
The court lists no certified interpreters in Lynchburg, one in Charlottesville, and two in Roanoke. Drewry said at least one of the Roanoke interpreters was no longer working in that capacity.
A Spanish-speaking lawyer, he argued, would be especially helpful because he understands the law.
Former Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia President John Machado, who wrote the bar association’s guidelines on the appointment of Spanish interpreters, said Friday’s appointment was probably the right thing to do, but is a little unusual.
“Having a Spanish-speaking lawyer — I don’t know if that’s going to run afoul of the provisions,” Machado said.
Judge Perrow raised the issue as well, but made the appointment nonetheless. He said provisions for court-appointed lawyers may not cover Gray and that he may not meet the court’s requirements to be paid as an interpreter, either.
The Judicial Council of Virginia, which provides policy guidance to state courts, states “an interpreter who is also an attorney should not serve in both capacities in the same matter.”
Gray said there should not be a conflict because he is serving as a court-appointed lawyer, not as an interpreter for court proceedings. Hearings will be covered by an impartial interpreter working for the court.
“Now I can talk to my client,” Drewry said.
Valentin-Morales is scheduled for trial on April 29. He is jailed at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center without bond.