English the official language of Alabama? No, not really, says court.

A sharply divided (5-4) state Supreme Court on Friday ruled that although Alabama's Constitution makes English the state's official language, it does not restrict offering driver's license tests in other languages. Amendment 509 requires that English be the official language of Alabama overwhelmingly passed through referendum in 1990.

Riley's attorney argued to the Supreme Court that by giving the test in a
person's native language, it would help them more easily assimilate into a
community and gain access to education and jobs.

This is the dumbest argument I have ever heard. It is true only if the communities, education, and jobs were also given in a person's native language. But they are not. This is America, these things they are given in English. This requirement works to the detriment of immigrants by not making them assimilate into our country. In my humble opinion we are doing a disservice by not asking that immigrants learn English. English must be learned in order to be successful in America and the world. English is the global language of business and we are not doing anybody any favors by making their lives easier in the beginning. Another problem is that this ruling creates a slippery slope for all signage and literature in the state. What's next? A suit to change all traffic signs into the metric system and the Spanish language?

In a concurring opinion, Smith wrote that although Amendment 509 guarantees English as Alabama's official language, "it does not expressly require that all government business be conducted in English." What the hell good is it? How toothless is our constitution when words like "official" don't mean anything. Webster's defines "official' as prescribed or recognized as authorized i.e.an official language.

In his dissent, Bolin said driver's license tests are possibly the most common experience where the state and its citizens interact.
"If state officials truly are to maintain English as 'the official language' of this state, can it seriously be questioned but that the state should communicate with its citizens in English, at least where there is no compelling reason for it not to do so?" he said. Amen, brother.