Language Access Services
Overview
The Court provides language access services in court proceedings to ensure meaningful participation in the court process for individuals with limited English language proficiency. In doing so, the Court promotes equal access and guarantees court procedures are fair and understandable for court users from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Pursuant to Evidence Code 756.
The Court provides language interpretation services, free of charge, to all parties and witnesses in the following case types:
- Criminal, Traffic, and Juvenile cases.
- Unlawful Detainers (evictions)
- Termination of Parental Rights
- Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Family Law cases (custody or visitation)
- Other Family Law cases
- Other Civil cases
The Interpreter Services Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all interpreter requests for all calendared hearings and makes every attempt to contract interpreters that are certified and/or registered by the Judicial Council. Our most commonly requested languages are: Spanish, Triqui, Mixteco, Zapoteco, Tagalog and Vietnamese. All language interpreters are expected to abide by The Code of Professional Ethics and the Interpreter Oath. Although the court attempts to meet all requests, the court is not always able to provide an interpreter in every language or in every civil case.
The Court provides bilingual (English/Spanish) staff at all Clerk's Offices. When staff are not available to assist in another language, the Court provides telephonic interpreter assistance using the services of an outside language provider. Please review the Court's local Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan for additional resource information.