European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                If 3 a a a it language Isnit baffling thing German Law John Millar Wurzburg Bureau or americans who find themselves in a German court not understanding the language May be just part of the prob Lem. Often its just As hard to understand the  that s where Gerold Harfst of Wurzburg Germany can help a a Harfst an assistant to the German District a it Gorncy in Wurzburg is used to seeing americans in court. His office handles cases involving Nat Servic members their families and narcotics. He is fluent in English and is frequently asked to translate in court even though that is not his Job. Harfst came to his role in a roundabout Way. Lie left his Hometown of Oldenburg Germany for a Madam in 1957, taking with him the English he had picked up from British soldiers stationed nearby. He landed a series of jobs in North America before joining a Friend in enlisting in the . Army in i960. It six months later Harfst found himself Back in Germany serving with the 3rd inf div in Schwin Furt. Two and a half years after that he was out of the  ready for something new. He soon began working for the army a criminal investigation come a a position he would hold for eight years a where he pick Dup some Leil knowledge to go along with his language skills today he uses both of them to help nato troops and family Mcm Bafs who have run into Legal problems and the language Barrier. Harfst 55, has noticed that As soon As he is asked to translate for an English speaking for Cigner in court the questions begin. Quot i have often been asked by parents a what can. A a a a a. A. A a a a Quot s4s John Millar Gerold Harfst a books Arje aimed at helping those unfamiliar with Germany a language and Laws. You Teh us about the German Law what a going to happen to my son what a going to happen to my daughter a. But i can to Tell them what to do or which lawyer to take a i i can say is what the judge says a Harfst said. So recognizing the difficulty foreigners have with the German language and their Lack of knowledge of German Law and courts Harfst began a two year project to translate his country a Law into English. With the Aid of Otto Schmidt a University of Wurzburg professor court translator and inter Procter Harfst translated two volumes of German criminal Law a including the narcotics and youth court Laws.  he knew the translation would be useful to Usia eur Law enforcement and Legal Legal Aid for those who hate surprises Merians being tried in a German court might be surprised by a few things a such As the Lack of a jury of their Peers a we done to have a jury court Quot said Gerold Harfst an  the German District attorney in Wiir Burg. A the most we have is a presiding judge and associate judge find Ltd Lay a ridges acid a court reporter who is a judge As  a. It is those judges w to ultimately decide in to hence or guilt he said. In addition German courts will admit hearsay into evidence something unheard of in . Courts Harfst said. Also there Are no verbatim recordings of proceedings by a court reporter something americans Are used to. Quot we had one Guy in court who did a lot of a  1 guess i us Mem  in an american you Rte fall of that the exact Lan Gunge is recorded a lie said. Harfst and a fellow court translator recently completed a two volume translation old Ger Man Law into English. The books include the German criminal code criminal procedure and youth and narcotics Laws Harfst said the books detail the entire German court process As Well As the Laws  will be Able to find out just How different american and German Law arc. He Isrin the process ohs ending copies of the a a books to . Military officials to be distributed to All Usa eur libraries. He said the books May be hard to find on the local icon omy and almost certainly expensive if found. However he said american servicemen crib ers and their families living in Germany can Purchase the two hardcover books from the publisher for $30 each.  Price for americans is Quot just an arrangement i made with the publisher a Harfst said. A and he agreed basically because l insisted Andi cause he s my  _ the books can be purchased by contacting Holger Harfst publisher Postrach 5741, d 8700 Wurzburg. John Millar officials who often de Al with the German court system.  i thought i could somehow give answers to questions for someone who was interested enough to read the books a he said. He said his books a explain exactly what Iran Spires in court what Legal rights you have what opportunities you  while All foreigners Are provided a translator in court he said a a it a pretty hard to explain to people what the German Law is made up of and what they can expect when they re already in court. A it behoves them to know at least a Little and know what to  a the Lack of knowledge beforehand is what gives you worries up until the time you face the judge a Harfst said. A if you know what it entails what the court is All about How the procedure runs then you Are at least a Little bit relieved by not having to guess. U a the Guesswork boggles your mind All the time. If you re Clear on the Law and you know what could happen and you go to court and there is a decision you can to change any of the decisions but there a a Relief off your  to translate the Law Harfst said he a spent two years almost every night every spare hour with the  he said some translations of German Law have been done in the recent past but keeping them updated and making sure the translations agree with each other was a difficult task Onee tinal drafts of his translations were com plated Harfst sent them to Heidelberg to be reviewed by the Usa eur staff judge advocate office. Officials there further edited the books and suggested some changes. Harfst said the translation of the youth court ? Laws was included a because we have and Are still dealing with a great numbing of  Many of both the youth and adult cases that Harfst a office see involve narcotics although those involving americans Are on the decline. He said Many american soldiers and family members were convicted of violating German narcotics Laws a late 1970s and Early 1980s,  number has dropped considerably. Harfst has also written two books on illegal drugs Quot the International drug scene and a qty peso drugs under International  both books were printed in English and carry an English German dictionary. A a a a a Page 6 sunday february 17. 1991