Judge Orders latino Woman to Learn English & Use Birth Control: SPLC will Fight it

A Hispanic woman who was ordered by a judge to learn English and use birth control or risk losing custody of her child is receiving free legal help and the aid of the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the nation's leading civil right organizations. Attorney Jerry Gonzalez is representing one of two Hispanic women known to have been ordered to learn English by Wilson County Juvenile Court Judge Barry Tatum. Gonzalez confirmed that Birmingham, Ala.-based SPLC has agreed to enter the case on his client's behalf. Formed in the 1970s, the organization monitors civil rights cases across the nation and is regarded as one of the leading authorities on hate group activities in the United States. "She now has three attorneys representing her as well as the resources of a nationally recognized civil rights group behind her," Gonzalez said. "Not only are they experts in this field, they've also entered an application to pay for all costs. We will do everything humanly possible to protect her rights." Gonzalez said the SPLC legal team has been briefed on the case and filed a formal motion seeking permission to join the legal fight, which is required for out-of-state attorneys. An SPLC spokesman in Birmingham on Thursday confirmed the organization has entered the legal fray but referred questions regarding specifics to the group's legal director, who was not immediately available for comment. Gonzalez has vowed to fight Tatum's directive all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary and also promised to attempt to seek state appeals court sanctions putting an end to such orders. [more] and [more]