O'Reilly's aide-de-camp, Bouligny, was the official translator. The defendants argued that they could not be tried under Spanish law, because Ulloa had never formally received possession of the colony, an argument which they lost.
Bouligny, O'Reilly's top aide, was in charge of translation. However, the defendants maintained that they could not be held accountable under Spanish law because Ulloa had never formally taken control of the colony, a stance they ultimately rejected.