IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2008-037 PA/PI-CIR
RE: INTERPRETERS
FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING PERSONS
Administrative Order No. PA/PI-CIR-02-56 promulgated the qualifications and professional responsibility standards for persons providing language services for non-English speaking persons in Sixth Judicial Circuit court proceedings. Since the issuance of that order, the Florida Supreme Court has promulgated rules concerning the certification and regulation of court interpreters and rules concerning the appointment of foreign language interpreters. Accordingly, the Circuit’s procedures for selection and use of foreign language interpreters require updating.
Therefore, it is hereby,
ORDERED:
1. Foreign language interpreters will be provided for persons before the courts of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.560 which authorizes an interpreter (a) for an accused or victim in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings, (b) for litigants in other proceedings where the court determines that the litigant’s inability to comprehend English deprives the litigant of an understanding of the court proceedings, that a fundamental interest is at stake (such as in a civil commitment, termination of parental rights, paternity, or dependency proceeding), and that no alternative to the appointment of an interpreter exists, and (c) for witnesses only as provided by the applicable provisions of the Florida Evidence Code.
2. All interpreters will be selected in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.560(e).
3. All persons, agencies and organizations whose services are secured by the court pursuant to this order shall comply with and be bound by the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Court Interpreters Code of Professional Conduct.
4. All requests for non-English speaking language interpreters in proceedings where the court secures the services, including emergency requests during regular work hours, shall be scheduled through the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Fiscal Office in the respective county where the services are requested, except for AT&T’s language line service which may be obtained directly by a judge or quasi-judicial officer or his or her designee. For proceedings occurring outside of regular work hours, AT&T’s Language Line or other comparable service may be used to provide emergency telephone interpretation.
5. The costs incurred by the Court for providing foreign language interpreters under this Administrative Order are subject to cost recovery in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2005-061 PA/PI-CIR.
6. Nothing in this order shall apply to interpreters for the hearing impaired.
7. Nothing in this order shall prohibit the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, State Attorney, Public Defender, Regional Counsel, or any other agency from utilizing the services of a language interpreter of its choosing for out-of-court activities. Any costs incurred for out-of-court activities shall be funded by the agency utilizing a language interpreter.
This order shall take effect July 1, 2008 and Administrative Order PA/PI-CIR-02-56 is rescinded that date.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at
______________________________
Robert J. Morris, Jr., Chief Judge
cc: All Judges
The Honorable
The Honorable
The Honorable
The Honorable
Debbie Gay, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco County Clerk’s Office
Gay L. Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator
Jackson S. Flyte, Office of Regional Counsel
Bar Associations,
Law Libraries,