Day 37: A Retired Judge Watches Oral Trials

Dialogue

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1. 1
   A

   Has de saber que en un contrainterrogatorio no se pregunta lo que no se sabe, y esa defensora no hace otra cosa.

   You ought to know that in a cross-examination you don't ask what you don't know, and that defense lawyer does nothing else.

   Line 1
2. 2
   B

   Es Karime, de mi generación, abuelo. El testigo dice que reconoció al acusado de noche y a media cuadra.

   That's Karime, from my class, Grandpa. The witness says he recognized the defendant at night, from half a block away.

   Line 2
3. 3
   A

   Pues con cada pregunta abierta lo deja repetir su versión, y el tribunal ya se la aprendió.

   Well, with every open question she lets him repeat his story, and the court has learned it by heart already.

   Line 3
4. 4
   B

   Espérese, abuelo, que ahí viene lo bueno: le acaba de preguntar si esa noche traía lentes.

   Hang on, Grandpa, here comes the good part: she's just asked him whether he was wearing his glasses that night.

   Line 4
5. 5
   A

   ¿Y si contesta que tiene vista de halcón? Quien preguntare a ciegas, que se atenga a la respuesta.

   And what if he says he has eyes like a hawk? Whosoever shall ask blindly, let him abide by the answer.

   Line 5
6. 6
   B

   ¡Ya ve! Dice que se le quedaron en la troca. Y mírelo: los usa de fondo de botella.

   See? He says he left them in the pickup. And look at him: he wears Coke-bottle glasses.

   Line 6
7. 7
   A

   Suerte de principiante. Ahora va a hacer la pregunta de más, y el testigo le va a jurar que sí vio bien.

   Beginner's luck. Now she'll ask the one question too many, and the witness will swear he saw perfectly well.

   Line 7
8. 8
   B

   “No hay más preguntas”. ¿Lo oyó, abuelo? Se sentó sin rematar, como usted siempre dice.

   “No further questions.” Did you hear that, Grandpa? She sat down without going for the kill, just as you always say.

   Line 8
9. 9
   A

   Se sentó a tiempo, te lo concedo. Pero antes un juicio no era teatro para una cámara: todo quedaba foliado en el expediente.

   She sat down in time, I'll grant you that. But in the old days a trial wasn't theater for a camera: everything went into the file, on numbered pages.

   Line 9
10. 10
    B

    ¿Foliado? Usted mismo me contó que firmaba sentencias sin haberle visto la cara a un solo testigo.

    Numbered pages? You told me yourself you used to sign judgments without ever having seen a single witness's face.

    Line 10
11. 11
    A

    He de admitirlo: en mi juzgado, ese testigo habría sido nomás una firma en la foja trescientos. El que juzgaba a ciegas era yo.

    I have to admit it: in my court, that witness would have been just a signature on folio three hundred. The one judging blind was me.

    Line 11