Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down English-Only Driving Test

Alabama's Practice of English Only Test Violates Civil Rights Act of 1964
For Immediate Release: December 8, 1999

The Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that Alabama's practice of giving its driver's license examinations only in English was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The November 30 ruling by the federal appeals court upholds a 1998 district court order in a class action brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of Martha Sandoval and other immigrants who cannot speak English fluently enough to take a written test in English. In the intervening months, thousands of Spanish-speaking Alabama residents have passed the driver's test in their language.

"It is an important victory," said Center legal director Richard Cohen, "not only because of the legal principles at stake, but also because of the lives it will touch. It will help immigrants overcome their isolation and become full participants in the economic and social life of this country." While Alabama does not have a large immigrant population, the Bureau of the Census projects that in the next decade the Latino population in Alabama is estimated to grow 32.4 percent (a gain of nearly 9000 persons).

"In California - one of the most linguistically diverse states in the country - the Eleventh Circuit's ruling puts state and local agencies on notice that they have to take affirmative steps to provide fair and equal access to all those they serve," said Christopher Ho, co-counsel on the Sandoval case and Senior Staff Attorney for the Language Rights Project. "The Court's decision is a giant step forward for the civil rights of the immigrant community in America, and for its ability to participate fully in all of the rights and opportunities the United States has to offer." ACLU NC Staff attorney Ed Chen also worked on the case.