885.38 Interpreters in circuit and appellate courts.

296 words·~1 min read·/wi/chapter-885/885-38-3

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)In this section:

(a)“Court proceeding” means any proceeding before a court of record.

(b)“Limited English proficiency” means any of the following:

1. The inability, because of the use of a language other than English, to adequately understand or communicate effectively in English in a court proceeding.

2. The inability, due to a speech impairment, hearing loss, deafness, deaf-blindness, or other disability, to adequately hear, understand, or communicate effectively in English in a court proceeding.

(c)“Qualified interpreter” means a person who is able to do all of the following:

1. Readily communicate with a person who has limited English proficiency.

2. Orally transfer the meaning of statements to and from English and the language spoken by a person who has limited English proficiency in the context of a court proceeding.

3. Readily and accurately interpret for a person who has limited English proficiency, without omissions or additions, in a manner that conserves the meaning, tone, and style of the original statement, including dialect, slang, and specialized vocabulary.

(2)The supreme court shall establish the procedures and policies for the recruitment, training, and certification of persons to act as qualified interpreters in a court proceeding and for the fees imposed for the training and certification, and for the coordination, discipline, retention, and training of those interpreters. Any fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.680

(gc).

(a)If the court determines that the person has limited English proficiency and that an interpreter is necessary, the court shall advise the person that he or she has the right to a qualified interpreter at the public’s expense if the person is one of the following:

1. A party in interest.